That feeling, that struggle, is something deeply human, and surprisingly, it echoes in the story of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle.

Shemot Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, delves into this very idea. It starts with a powerful verse from Psalms (31:19): “Mute the lying lips that speak falsehood against the righteous with arrogance and contempt." What does this have to do with the Tabernacle? Well, the Rabbis find connections in the most unexpected places!

One interpretation focuses on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Imagine confessing your sins year after year. According to the text, if you keep bringing up the same old sins, God might say, "Enough! Mute those lying lips!" It's as if to say, "Haven't you moved on? Do you have nothing new to confess?" The Hebrew word used here, atak, refers to things that have already passed. It's even used in Genesis 12:8 in the phrase "vayatek from there to the mountain," meaning "He relocated." Bringing up old sins, according to this reading, is a form of arrogance, implying that you haven't grown, that you have no current shortcomings to address.

But the Shemot Rabbah doesn't stop there. It takes this idea and applies it directly to Moses and the building of the Tabernacle. Remember, God commanded Moses to have the Israelites build this portable sanctuary, this dwelling place for the Divine Presence. Moses, being the faithful leader he was, immediately relayed the command: "Let them bring Me a gift" (Exodus 25:2).

Now, here's where the “lying lips” come in. According to Rabbi Yoḥanan, Moses was involved in the Tabernacle project for six months: three months to build it, and three months... just waiting. And during that waiting period, the cynics of Israel started to murmur. “Is it possible,” they scoffed, “that the Divine Presence will rest by means of the son of Amram?” They couldn't believe that this seemingly ordinary man, Moses, could be the instrument through which God's presence would manifest.

The Yefei To’ar commentary adds that even the remarkably quick construction of the Tabernacle (in just three months!)—which arguably required divine assistance—didn't silence the critics. They were still skeptical because it wasn't yet assembled, and the Divine Presence wasn't visibly dwelling within it.

Why the delay? The Shemot Rabbah tells us that God intended for the Tabernacle to be erected in the month that Isaac, our patriarch, was born. But God didn’t immediately command Moses to act. It wasn’t until that specific month arrived that God finally said to Moses: “On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, you shall erect the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 40:2).

Only then, in that divinely appointed moment, did the people begin to carry the Tabernacle, each person bringing the fruits of their labor. As the text states, “They brought the Tabernacle to Moses.” It was a collective effort, a testament to their faith, finally silencing the "lying lips" that had doubted and mocked.

So, what can we learn from this? Perhaps it's a reminder that even the most righteous among us, like Moses, face criticism and doubt. Maybe it's a lesson in patience, that divine timing is often different from our own. Or perhaps it's simply a call to be mindful of our words, to avoid becoming those "lying lips" that speak falsehood with arrogance and contempt. After all, who knows what incredible things might be unfolding, even when we can't yet see them?