וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם
And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. (25:8)
The Midrash relates that Moshe shuddered when he heard these words. “Master of the universe!” he said. “All the Heavens could never contain You. And now you tell us, ‘let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them’? Hashem responded, “Moshe, it’s not as you think. Rather put up the beams (for the structure along with everything else needed for the Tabernacle) and I will descend from Heaven and “compress” my Presence to dwell in your midst.”
Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan, famously known as the Chofetz Chaim, taught that the lesson of this Midrash is that Hashem expects of us to do what we are capable of and not beyond that. For instance, someone because of their background may have limited experience in Torah study. It may take them longer to grasp the concepts being taught. Hashem’s expectation of that person is to study the best he or she can at a pace appropriate for them. The same goes for giving Tzedakah. We are expected to give according to our means – no more and no less!
Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers, 2:21) states:
רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן אוֹמֵר, הַיּוֹם קָצָר וְהַמְּלָאכָה מְרֻבָּה, וְהַפּוֹעֲלִים עֲצֵלִים, וְהַשָּׂכָר הַרְבֵּה, וּבַעַל הַבַּיִת דּוֹחֵק:
Rabbi Tarfon said: the day is short, the work is plentiful, the laborers are lazy, the reward is great, and the master of the house is insistent.
Meiri comments that the laborers lack enthusiasm because they are overwhelmed by the enormity of their duties. Why begin if I’ll never be able to finish the job! In response to that Rabbi Tarfon continued (2:22):
לֹא עָלֶיךָ הַמְּלָאכָה לִגְמֹר, וְלֹא אַתָּה בֶן חוֹרִין לִבָּטֵל מִמֶּנָּה.
It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.” Hashem does not engage a person in His service with the expectation to complete the task nor does he absolve that person from it. One must put forth their best effort according to their abilities to reach the goal.
Our Sages teach us that Hashem’s plan is as follows. “Open for Me a pinhole and I will make an opening for you as wide as a banquet hall (i.e. a large and spacious room)!” When we do our best Hashem will expand our capabilities and we will accomplish as never expected before.
Shabbat Shalom!
Yitzchak