The Wedding

All eyes were glued on the flowing gown. Or so it seemed. Its colour: a matchless white with patches gold coloured wool perfectly woven into the Italian lace material. It was floor length and had a slit on the left reaching just above her knees. It was made by the renowned Jigger Bridals. The joy in the auditorium can only be compared with that of heaven, when a sinner comes home. The singing was electric. Every one joined in the singing making a synchronised chorus.

Orchard was twenty four. She had graduated top of her class at twenty and is currently the team leader of the Advertising department of Etim International, Africa’s largest cocoa conglomerate. Some found it hard to believe that Orchard was getting married this early but Orchard had always been in time. Her life was perfect. She was beautiful, smart, rich and was about to marry. A joy to behold.

The priest asked the groom to raise the veil, he did.  “Marriage is an institution ordained by God…” the priest began to say.

 Orchard had an impeccable smile and maintained a smooth voice as she delivered her own end of the vows. She looked into her man’s eyes all the time. She knew what she was doing. Her father sat still beholding the scene; he was not as excited as the other guests. He had his reasons.

First his most priced investment was marrying an ‘Utuzlanti’ man! The Utuzlanti were the ones that betrayed his forefathers. The ones that betrayed her forefathers to the British. Plans had been perfected to attack those slave traders from the hill top at twilight. It was a perfect plan even then. It had been rehearsed and every man knew what to do. But for that bastard son of Utuzlanti that sold them out. Hundreds were killed and even today the betrayal is unforgiveable. That’s exactly the way his own father told him the story.

His ‘country people’ would not forgive him, for this. For allowing his daughter, for allowing “an Otenbebo” to marry an Utuzlanti. They showed it by their absence. He had sworn it would be over his dead body. A part of him remains scared; peradventure the gods heard him and granted his words. He looked at the lanky fellow who in a few minutes would become his daughter’s husband, a ‘boy’ of no reputable roots. His breath was hot under his nostrils; he gnashed his teeth over and over again, leaving the patterns on his chin. His daughter had been mature and sensible from birth she had never had it wrong. He couldn’t refuse her but he didn’t accept him.

“What a dilemma,” he blurted under his breath. “This madness must stop!” His mind was made up. He would hurt his daughter but it would only be temporal.

The consequence of such union was too grave. They had placed a curse on anyone who dared to marry an Utuzlanti. Those that were courageous enough to do it never lived past the first month of marriage. If only his daughter was not as rich as she was. Money tends to change people. His daughter had never disobeyed him before. He had forbidden the marriage but she insisted. She would go through with the marriage even in his absence. He looked around the auditorium; all the people seemed happy and in acceptance. He felt like a stranger at his own daughter’s wedding.

“If her mother were alive, Orchard wouldn’t refuse her.” He said to himself clenching his fist.  “Death you won’t claim this one! It would be over my dead body.”

The priest looked up from the pamphlet he was holding and declared, “I stand before this couple this day to unite them in the bonds of matrimony. If there be anyone present that may present just and lawful cause why this two may not be lawfully wedded, let him speak now or forever hold his peace.”

There was silence. The only sound came from Orchard’s heart; it beat like drums of war. She knew her father was there and was well capable of creating a scene. She closed her eyes. A man clothed in deep black suit got up from the congregation. One could have mistaken him for the groom. He was of the same height, same shape, same colour but a slightly different look. He marched towards the altar and stood by the groom.

The priest had goose bumps all over him, his knees were shaking and sweat broke out on his forehead. He had joined eighteen couples in his twenty five years in the ministry and he had seen nothing like this before. He was about to have the first wedding crasher.

The silence was unbroken. The priest beckoned on the other ministers and signaled to the choir. The choir lifted up their voices in songs of worship as the ministers surrounded the intending couple. The man stood by the groom behind his back speechless and emotionless. The congregation got up to sing wondering why the session of worship was not included in the programme. The priest briefed the ministers what he had seen and gave the interpretation. They were awe struck.

“Brethren what we must do is to pray. We must resist the devil violently and establish the will of God.” The men joined their hands in a circle with the couple in the middle and began to pray in tongues. They were loud and aggressive. The louder they prayed, the louder the choir sang almost drowning their voices in their choruses.

Suddenly a bright light appeared invisible to the physical eyes, with it came a strong hefty man. He grabbed the man beside the groom by the waist and they both disappeared. The congregation was lost in the worship of God; some were on their knees while others lay prostrate. It was like a revival service.

The priest picked the microphone and continued to worship God. Then he stopped the singing and led the congregation to pray. After some minutes of prayer, and a loud “Amen” from the audience, the priest continued the service.

“Shall we stand together as we join this wonderful couple in holy matrimony?” After the joining, the Reverend preached the sermon titled the Great Deliverer.

Four people responded to the altar call, one of whom was Orchard’s father. Her joy knew no bounds.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Jesus said in Matthew 19:6 “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh, what therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” There is much benefit in being joined in the presence of God; this all perfect plan and provision of God is unfortunately being thwarted by modern trends of co-habitation. One major reason why marriage should be holy and pious is that satan come to places he is not invited, especially families (remember Job). But if you are joined in the presence of God, His power will be made available to break yokes and bring the devil to shame when he comes.

A word of caution:  don’t go into the presence of God in sin. Many people conceal pregnancy, pre-marital sex, masturbation and other sexual vices under their wedding veils, which is very dangerous because if the devil strikes, you can call on God but if you offend God by defiling the bed, who will you call?

Marriage must be prayerfully entered into so that it can last forever as God intended it to. Shalom.