#231 Exodus 38: 1-7 Reflective Metals

They built the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood, three cubits high; it was square, five cubits long and five cubits wide. 2 They made a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar were of one piece, and they overlaid the altar with bronze. 3 They made all its utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks and fire pans. 4 They made a grating for the altar, a bronze network, to be under its ledge, halfway up the altar. 5 They cast bronze rings to hold the poles for the four corners of the bronze grating. 6 They made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. 7 They inserted the poles into the rings so they would be on the sides of the altar for carrying it. They made it hollow, out of boards. 8 They made the bronze basin and its bronze stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Exodus 38: 1-7 NIV

The women, who donated their mirrors, receive mention. It is a polished metal that women stood before, for their reflection. It is also interesting that it becomes the wash basin; there is some dirt that we do not readily see without some measure of reflection. I would say this would be an important item, treasured piece to own, and yet these women found a more divine purpose in donating it to the Lord's work. God's word had much of that same effect on me, like a mirror, revealing a standard much different than my own, and one to which "though seeing, I could not see." 

Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.18Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Your law. 19I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.…Psalm 119:17-19

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;24for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.…James 1:22-24