In Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, we find a fascinating exploration of this very idea. The verse "This is the matter [hadavar]" (Exodus 28:1) becomes a springboard for a discussion about divine promises and their fulfillment. It all hinges on a verse from Psalms (119:89): “Forever, Lord, Your word [devarkha] stands in the heavens.”

But wait a minute... does that mean God's word only stands in the heavens? Doesn't it apply to Earth too?

Rabbi Hizkiya bar Hiyya offers a powerful explanation: God’s promises made in the heavens are eventually fulfilled, even if it takes time. He uses the example of God's promise to Abraham.

Remember when God told Abraham, "Go from your land… I will render you a great nation" (Genesis 12:1–2)? Abraham, bless his heart, was worried. He basically said, "God, what good are all these blessings if I won't have any children to inherit them?" According to the midrash, Abraham even looked to his astrological charts and saw that, according to the stars, he was destined to be childless.

Now, here’s where it gets really interesting. God essentially tells Abraham, "Don't worry about the stars!" He then takes Abraham outside and says, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars, if you can. So shall your offspring be" (Genesis 15:5). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, quoting Rabbi Hanin, adds that God actually lifted Abraham above the firmament to show him this! The point? Just as the stars are countless, so too would be Abraham's descendants. God's promise, initially made "in the heavens," would eventually materialize on Earth, despite what the stars seemed to say.

We see a similar pattern with Jacob. God promised him, "Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth… I will descend with you to Egypt, and I will take you up again" (Genesis 28:14, 46:4). And, as the story unfolds, God fulfills that promise too.

So, what's the connection to "This is the matter [hadavar]"? The midrash draws a parallel to Aaron. God promised Moses, “And you, draw Aaron your brother near to you" (Exodus 28:1). This act of elevating Aaron, of bringing him close, is the "matter" – the hadavar – that Moses is instructed to perform. It's a tangible manifestation of God's earlier promise.

The message seems clear: God's promises, though sometimes seemingly distant like the stars, are ultimately fulfilled. Shemot Rabbah uses these stories to reassure us that even when things seem impossible, God's word, spoken "in the heavens," has a way of becoming reality here on Earth.

What does this mean for us? Maybe it’s a reminder to have faith, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Maybe it's an invitation to trust in the promises that resonate within our own lives, even when the path to fulfillment is unclear. After all, the stars themselves may shift, but as Psalms reminds us, God's word endures.