Wise Hearted Women

Photo by: Stoonn

As I was reading about the people’s gifts for building the Tabernacle, the women especially impressed me. (Not that the men didn’t do wondrous things also, but I’m a woman, so naturally . . . .)

Exodus 35:25-26, 29

25. And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen.

26. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair.

29. The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

The women are called “wise hearted.” Their hearts “stirred them up in wisdom.” What does that mean?

“Wise” and “wisdom” mean: wise, cunning, skillful.

“Heart” and “hearted” are talking about the: heart; mind; understanding; the inner man; the soul; the heart of moral character; the seat of appetites, emotions, and passions.

These ladies are called wise in the very core of their beings. Why? They prepared their offerings for God.

Look at verses 25 and 26. They didn’t just bring their offerings—which would have been fine—they actually sat down and spun the beautifully dyed fibers into thread. Then, they brought the thread.

Have you ever been in a craft fair or at a reenactment or somewhere where you could watch people spin? It’s fascinating! The spinner first cards the flax or wool so that the fibers are going in the same direction. Then, she starts to twist the fibers between her fingers, keeping the fibers moving and her fingers sensitive to the thickness of thread she desires to spin. A good spinner can make very fine threads. There’s an art to this, a feel to it. It takes practice and patience.

These women didn’t just plop the fiber down for someone else to do the work. They did it before they offered it. Look at what they spun. They spun the very finest: blue, purple, scarlet (expensive dyes, gorgeous colors), fine linen.

My family has a few small, antique tablecloths made of fine linen. You can almost see through it; it’s so fine. I wonder if their linen was like that. I’m sure it was beautiful to the touch and to the eye.

I would imagine spun goats’ hair would be like spun wool—think cashmere. I have a cousin who spins her own wool and then crochets or knits it into fuzzy clothing. I envision these ladies’ work as something of the same—very soft and luxurious.

Only the best would do for the Tabernacle. Only the best would do for God.

These ladies willingly, from the heart, gave God their time, effort, and expertise. The word used here for willing means “a freewill offering.” The women were called “wise.”

Are we wise-hearted women?

• Are we willing to prepare our gifts for the Lord—whatever we’re gifted in?
• Do we use our time, effort, and expertise willingly, as an offering, to God? 

I hope you are as inspired by these spinning ladies as I am.