Producer/Director Cecil B. DeMille was known for his epic movies created with armies of actors and extras spread out across the landscape.
It was a high-pressure, high stress job, and during the filming of the “Ten Commandments,” he suffered a heart attack, but survived to complete the movie.
Charlton Heston offered an example of the pressure he lived with — it was the Exodus scene.
The day before filming that departure from Egypt, tens of thousands of extras were brought in, including whole Egyptian families with their flocks and herds of animals.
Heston, who played Moses, estimated 50,000 people were involved. There were four camera operators with 4,000 feet of film to capture the action from every angle — a length-shot, a cross-shot, a close-up shot, and an above-shot from high atop a nearby ridge.
Finally, DeMille gave the “lights, camera, action” order and that mass of people and animals marched out of the city into the desert following Heston’s character.
When it was over, DeMille asked the close-up camera operator how it went and he said, “I’m sorry but a camel walked in front of my camera, and he wouldn’t move.”
The cross-shot camera operator said, “My assistant didn’t set the lens, and I didn’t film anything.” Then the aboveshot camera operator yelled down, “I’m ready when you are!”
In an instant, two days of planning and work was erased.
Paul writes to all of us in Ephesians:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
— Ephesians 6: 10-11
Later, Paul describes the armor.
“The breastplate of righteousness … strapped on your feet (sandals?) … the shield of faith … the helmet of salvation … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God ... (and) pray at all times in the Spirit.”
— Ephesians 6: 14-18
Do you think it might be significant that all the armor is defensive except the final two which are mostly defensive, but on rare occasions might be used as weapons?
The battle with evil is a battle with principalities and powers in high and heavenly places (Ephesians 6.12); we on earth are called to simply be the presence of what is good and right and true in a world where things are bad and wrong and false.
We aren’t called to attack evil, but to demonstrate righteousness.
And you should notice the description of the armor ends with the admonition to do all this in prayer, “Lord, enable us to put on and wear your armor every day and clothe us with what is good and right and true, in Jesus’ name, amen.”
Charles “Buddy” Whatley is a retired United Methodist pastor serving Dawson Street Methodist Church in Thomasville, Ga.
