The passage begins with a curious question, referencing the Book of Job: "Will a man be more just than God...?" (Job 4:17). It seems like a rhetorical question, almost a challenge. Is it possible for human beings to be more righteous, more generous, even more just than the Divine?

Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen offers an example. He recalls the story of Jacob’s encounter with Pharaoh. As we read in Genesis 47:10, “Jacob blessed Pharaoh.” It wasn’t enough for Jacob to simply receive an audience; he actively bestowed a blessing upon the ruler of Egypt before departing. And what was that blessing? “May the Nile rise to your feet.” A practical blessing, indeed! It signaled the end of the famine, a promise of abundance and life. Jacob recognized that when he came before others, he came “laden with blessings.”

So how does this connect to God’s blessings? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi suggests that at Sinai, God alluded to something profound. He implied that if the Israelites were to build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle – that portable sanctuary, a dwelling place for the Divine Presence – then God, in turn, would bless them. This idea is rooted in Exodus 20:21: “You shall craft for Me an altar of earth…in every place that I mention my name, I will come to you and I will bless you.”

Think about that for a moment. It's a reciprocal relationship. We create a space for the Divine, and in that space, blessing flows. The Midrash sees this promise fulfilled when God comes to the Tabernacle. The proof text? The Priestly Blessing itself, recited to this day: “May the Lord bless you and protect you” (Numbers 6:24).

And the timing is crucial. When does this blessing occur? "On the day that [Moses] concluded [erecting the Tabernacle]." (Numbers 7:1). The completion of the Mishkan, the moment of dedication, is the very moment the blessing is bestowed.

The Midrash circles back to the original question: "Will a man be more just than God...?" The answer, of course, is no. But the point isn’t about competition. It’s about understanding the nature of God's generosity. Just as Jacob blessed Pharaoh, God, too, blesses Israel when He comes to them. It's a divine echo, a mirroring of generosity. That's why the verse "May the Lord bless you and protect you" is deliberately juxtaposed with the phrase "It was on the day that [Moses] concluded..."

The blessing isn't just a divine decree handed down from on high. It's inextricably linked to our actions, to our willingness to create a space for the Divine in our lives. The building of the Mishkan wasn’t merely a construction project; it was an act of invitation, a declaration of readiness to receive God's blessing.

So what does this mean for us today? Perhaps it's a reminder that blessings aren't passive occurrences. We need to actively create spaces – physical, emotional, spiritual – where blessings can flow. It might be an act of kindness, a moment of prayer, or simply a conscious effort to be present and receptive. And just as Jacob came laden with blessings, we too can strive to be conduits of blessing in the world, mirroring the Divine generosity we seek to receive.