The Midrash for one of this week’s Bible portions explains that on the first day of the month of Nisan (Aries), the Creator commanded Moses to finally erect the Mishkan (Tabernacle). For months, the builders had been working on its construction, and now the Creator wanted it to stand. Now this may seem like an unreal feat—for one man to put an entire building into place. But the Creator said to Moses, “Just try to lift it and I will do the rest.” And so Moses pushed the Tabernacle, and it was up. As the Midrash describes: “Finally, Moses set up the Mishkan, single-handedly. He merely touched the beams, and they miraculously put themselves into position.” (Midrash, Pekudei).
This is a lesson for all of us. All that is expected of us is to try, to do what we can, to accomplish our half of the work. The Creator will do the rest. Nothing that comes to us is beyond our ability. Nothing that we can’t do is expected of us. We are not asked to become saints. (If we all became saints, it would be wonderful, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon). But we are asked to make the effort because it is this effort that creates the space for the Light to come in and assist us.
This week when you are presented with a challenge that seems insurmountable, ask the Creator for help, and remember that we are never given more than we can handle.
