THURSDAY - 9TH JANUARY, 2025
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
BREAKING ORTHODOXY: THE STAFF BEHIND THE VEIL - Unorthodox Daughter Series 003
Genesis 29:9, ESV
"While he was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess."
Yesterday, we learnt about Rachel who comes with the sheep and who was called a shepherdess. We also contrasted her with Rebekah (who we took as a generalization for other girls, their pursuits or ways of life). While Rebekah comes to the well with a pitcher on her shoulders to fetch water - therefore continuing the legacy of the traditional woman who stays indoor all the day, Rachel comes to the well but with a staff and identity of a shepherd who's in command and with oversight of some flock. This is a great difference. This is a reflection of how some girls, ladies or women are having in-road into male dominated or saturated professions.
Rachel is your trail blazer and role model in this wise if you want to company with men and attain their heights, respect and greatness. You have one to pattern or take after. She's called Rachel, the shepherdess.
I bring you today the story of great unorthodoxy and how there's a staff hidden behind the veil. Women especially in the East are known with the veil. It's a cover but also a symbol of chastity. When Rebekah sees Isaac approaching, she took her veil and cover herself (Gen. 24:65). The veil not only symbolizes chastity but is also a token for hidden beauty and sought after grace. For Rachel, at our meeting her, the Bible didn't describe her or introduce her to us using first of all feminine qualities that make men savour female and see them as toys or sex objects. Rather, she was introduced to us in the manner and guise of a male. The Bible says, "here's Rachel, Laban's daughter and she comes with the sheep." Will a woman who comes with the sheep immediately arouses the interest of anyone? You didn't meet a powdered face. The Bible didn't say, "and she's fair to behold and she's a virgin!" Nothing therefore awakened in anybody. She wasn't portrayed as a prey ready to be pounced on in the chamber or bedroom. She rather owns the narrative here for she is called a shepherdess - one in control of sheep as if she owns them.
Rather, someone like Rebekah, her mother in-law get described in those alluring and male thirsty adornments. She was dolled and painted as "very fair to behold, a virgin whom no man had known..." (Gen.24:16).
While Rebekah is portrayed as a bride made ready for her bridegroom, Rachel (though she eventually marries Jacob) is portrayed as a groom meeting his bride. Rachel is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber (Psalm 19:5).
Orthodoxy is being broken. The fact that the Creator God created them male and female (equal partners for each other) is an enlightenment dawning on all now. May this be recognized by you! Catch it!
PRAYER: While I recognize leadership of the male in the home setting, yet I wake up to the reality that God created them or (us) male and female and as equal partners. I rise beyond female's pettiness of dolling the face only to the embrace of my calling and destiny.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Matthew 7:7-29 & Genesis 23-24
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