Women of the Word

In a museum’s conservation lab, two textile experts are tasked with restoring identical panels from a medieval tapestry. Both panels depict the same scene, woven from the same threads, but they have suffered different fates. The first restorer, trained in modern techniques, meticulously cleans, re-stretches, and color-matches new threads to fill in the gaps, creating a visually seamless and impressive result. The work is precise, efficient, and beautiful. The second restorer, however, approaches her panel differently. Before touching a single thread, she spends weeks in the archives, studying the weaver’s original cartoons, the chemical composition of the dyes, and the historical context of the imagery. She learns the weaver’s unique stitch patterns, the meaning behind the symbols, and the story the panel was intended to tell. Her restoration is slower, more deliberate. She doesn’t just fill the gaps; she re-weaves them using the same logic and intent as the original creator. From a distance, the first restoration might look more pristine, but up close, the second one holds the spirit of the original work. One is a beautiful copy; the other is a faithful conversation with the past.

This same distinction lies at the heart of how many people approach the Bible. They see its beauty but engage with it superficially, mending the surface without understanding the underlying structure. Jen Wilkin noticed this pattern over years of teaching women’s Bible studies. She saw intelligent, capable women who could manage households, run businesses, and master complex subjects, yet felt intimidated and ill-equipped when it came to studying scripture for themselves. They relied on others to interpret the text for them, patching their understanding together from devotional thoughts and second-hand insights. Wilkin, a respected author and Bible teacher with over a decade of experience, became convinced that women didn't need another pre-digested meal. They needed to learn the weaver’s craft for themselves—to be given the tools of literacy and study that would allow them to engage with the text directly, confidently, and with deep comprehension.

Module 1: The Foundational Shift — It’s About God, Not You

Many of us open the Bible with a self-focused lens. We ask, "Who am I?" or "What should I do?" The book argues this is a fundamental mistake. It flips the script entirely. The Bible is primarily a book about God. This single shift changes everything. It reframes our entire approach.

Think of Moses at the burning bush. He asks self-focused questions. "Who am I to go?" God's response is a complete redirection. He doesn't build up Moses's self-esteem. He declares His own identity: "I AM WHO I AM." The power wasn't in Moses's ability. It was in God's character. Wilkin suggests our study should mirror this. We find our own identity and purpose only after we first understand who God is.

And here's the thing. This isn't just a philosophical point. It has practical implications. Jesus confronted the religious leaders of his day. They studied the Scriptures constantly. They searched them for eternal life. Yet they missed the point. The Scriptures testified about him. Their self-focused search blinded them to the Bible's central subject.

This brings us to a crucial insight for personal growth. We learn who we are by first seeing who God is. When the Bible says God is patient, we recognize our impatience. When it says God is just, we see our own injustice. This is the proper order. God first, then self. It’s this order that leads to genuine transformation, not just temporary inspiration. We move from a self-help mindset to a God-centered one.

So where does that leave our feelings? Our emotions are important. But they can't be the driver. That leads directly to our next module.