The Torah tells us Moses was unique, unparalleled in his closeness to the Divine. But what did that closeness feel like? How did it sound?
Before the dedication of the Mishkan (מִשְׁכָּן), the Sanctuary, the connection wasn't quite what you might expect. Picture this: God's voice reaching Moses, almost as if channeled through a…tube. Strange, right? According to Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, those nearby only knew Moses was receiving divine communication because his face would flush red. A pretty dramatic symptom, wouldn't you agree?
But everything changed with the consecration of the Sanctuary. This wasn't just a building dedication; it was a pivotal moment in the relationship between God and the people of Israel.
On that day, when Moses entered the Mishkan, something miraculous happened. Instead of a distant, channeled voice, a sound filled the space. The text describes it as "sweet, pleasant, and lovely." Imagine the relief, the shift in tone! Moses himself noticed the difference, declaring, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak." (Psalm 85:8).
And what did God say? It’s beautiful. It’s profound. God declared an end to the negativity that had plagued their relationship. "Formerly there reigned enmity between Me and My children, formerly there reigned anger between Me and My children, formerly there reigned hatred between Me and My children; but now love reigns between Me and My children, friendship reigns between Me and My children, peace reigns between Me and My children."
Think about that for a moment. The consecration of the Sanctuary wasn't just about bricks and mortar, tapestries and incense. It was about reconciliation. It was about God choosing love, friendship, and peace over enmity, anger, and hatred.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What "Sanctuaries" do we need to build – within ourselves, within our relationships, within our communities – to usher in that same sweet, pleasant, and lovely voice of reconciliation? What needs to be consecrated anew?