As Moses gathered materials to construct the tabernacle, he called for donations. People gave willingly, so much so the artisans and builders soon possessed piles of goods—more than enough.

One group of women gave up a highly valuable object—their mirrors. Glass mirrors like we smile before today did not exist, so bronze mirrors, highly polished, served the purpose. No small gift, mirrors were hard to come by. But a group of women who served at the entrance to the meeting tent willingly laid them before Moses.

Skilled metalworkers built a washbasin and stand from those mirrors. To purify themselves before going before the Lord, the priests washed their hands and feet using the basin.

As Moses finished the tabernacle he set the washbasin in place. Shortly thereafter the Lord showed up. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

I wonder how those ladies felt, standing next to Moses, watching a cloud of smoke and fire and the Lord’s presence engulf the tabernacle and their washbasin? I imagine they felt their contribution well made. Who needs to gaze into a mirror when the glory of God swirls before you?

A good thought as we make our way in today’s intensely narcissistic society. Devices reflecting us back to ourselves—mirrors and selfies and social media and advertising—distract us from the God who swirls. Like those women back in the day, maybe it’s time to give them up?

Exodus 38 & 40 in reading the Bible in 2023