Page 15 - Pentateuch - Student Textbook

The dignified minister calls for the rings and then announces to the happy couple: “I now
pronounce you man and wife.”
What is the cultural equivalent for the Rendille people in the northern desert of Kenya? One
might say, “With these toenails, I thee wed.”
Among the Rendille, the best man trims the fingernails
and toenails of the bride and groom. They are mixed
together and placed on a sandal. “Can’t you tell the
difference?” the best man asks the groom. “No, of course
you can’t, because now you are one!”
Still another Rendille wedding custom involves the
sandals of the bride and groom. The groom buys two cow
hides – one for the wall of his future home with his wife
and one for their “bed.” Before the wedding, the groom
gives a piece of the hides for the bride’s new sandals. The Fig. 7: Toe nail clippings
bride’s mother also gives a piece of hide for the groom’s new
sandals. Eventually, the bride’s right sandal is given to her mother-in-law and the bride’s left
15
sandal goes to her own mother – a touching symbolism of the union of two families.

Many other illustrations could be given similar to the Kenyan custom cited above. In the southern region
of Congo D.R., Pastor Thimpanga notes that white powder is a symbol of exceptional blessing and grace.
“When we have a wedding, we cover the newly married couple with white powder to express wonderful
joy.” This leaving and cleaving is powerful by God’s original intention and creation.
16

15 K. Lewis, “And Now You Are One,” In Other Words, (Sept/Oct. 1992), p. 3.
16 Lewis Nelms, Gospelink newsletter, Jan. 2012.

14