Behind The Veil

The morning after his wedding, Jacob in the Bible woke up with the wrong woman next to him. He had just worked seven years for his future father-in-law and uncle, Laban, to earn Rachel as his wife and instead wakes up that honeymoon morning with her older sister Leah in his bed. Huge oops. Folks throughout the centuries have asked, "How did that happen? Didn't you see her face when you married?" Well, I don't think wedding traditions of our time were the same as then, since the Bible says Laban gave a feast then Jacob went into "her." Doesn't sound like vows were exchanged, so the room could have been dark. But there have been folks who said maybe Leah was wearing a veil so Jacob couldn't see her face. Perhaps. If so, maybe that's why they are sheer now.

I read that the bridal veil got started in ancient times during arranged marriages. The groom wasn't to see the bride until their vows, so she was kept covered. The meaning of veil is to "conceal, hide or protect." Some say the first time the groom saw his bride's features was at the vows, and he wouldn't back out if she's wasn't as appealing physically as he'd hoped. Concealing her could very well have protected her from losing her husband before they were legally hitched. Others say the veil was to keep away evil spirits or to show the bride's purity.

Nowadays, the veil isn't for concealing. It's just part of the bridal outfit. I mean, where else are you going to wear a veil? Little Catholic girls get to wear one at their first Holy Communion, and some widows wear a black one in mourning (i.e. Jackie Kennedy) but other than that, there are really no other "veil" occasions. Every little girl who has played "wedding" as a child, wore some blanket on her head as the bride. It is interesting on shows like "Say Yes To The Dress," the bride and her entourage don't completely break down or get on board with the potential dress until a veil is put on the bride. Then the tears fall and the deal is sealed. It's what makes the bride look bridal.

There are all kinds of styles: birdcage (the little short netted one), shoulder length, fingertip, chapel and cathedral. Some are tiered, poofy, shimmery, lacey, appliqued, ribboned and sparkly. They are all breathtaking on a bride and make for lovely photographs.

On the wedding day, one piece of the veil (called the blusher) goes over the head in front of the face until the bride is presented by her father to the groom at the altar. Then the father pulls the blusher over the head to the back. Both Ayla and Kayla have their veils. Ayla's is edged in sparkles and Kayla's is the veil her mother, Irene, wore at her wedding edged in beautiful lace. Both ladies will look gorgeous in their wedding veils.

There are two specific veils listed in Scripture that I wanted to talk about with you. One is the veil Moses wore. Apparently after visiting with God on Mt. Sinai, Moses was so radiant and glowy the people had trouble looking at him, so he would wear a veil (Exodus 34:33-35). The other veil isn't one that was worn at all. It hung at the entrance of the Holy of Holies in the temple to separate the people from God. When Jesus died on the cross, that thick, heavy, long veil was "torn in two, from top to bottom." (Matthew 27:51). Notice that both veils were to separate people from the radiance that is or comes from God.

The veils the bride wears may in essence do the same. Prior to marrying her fiance, the bride is God's little girl, protected, loved and radiant. She is gifted to this man who is charged with loving, caring for and protecting her till death, so then the veil is pulled away. Guys, you have the honor of getting to do that for Ayla and Kayla. Do it well.

Discussion: Girls, did you ever play bride when you were little with a veil on your head? Is a veil important to you in the ceremony?

Prayer: Father, what a wonderful thought that when we are in your presence we could flow the radiance of what is You! We pray that is something people always see in us. Thank you, Lord, for tearing the veil in two that we can commune with you. In Jesus, Amen.