To understand, we need to remember what came before that call. Go back to the end of Exodus, to the detailed instructions for building the Mishkan. The text repeats, almost like a mantra, "As the Lord commanded Moses" (Exodus 39). Over and over, we see that Moses is the faithful executor of God's will.
Vayikra Rabbah, a Midrashic collection of rabbinic teachings on Leviticus, offers a beautiful analogy to explain this. Imagine a king who instructs his servant to build him a palace. The servant, filled with respect and loyalty, inscribes the king's name on every part of the structure. He writes it on the walls, the pillars, even the ceiling beams. Everywhere you look, there's the king's name.
When the palace is finished, the king enters and sees his name everywhere. He realizes the incredible honor his servant has bestowed upon him. But then a thought strikes him: "My servant has given me all this honor, and yet he remains outside? That cannot be!" And so, he calls for his servant, inviting him into the innermost chambers of the palace.
Isn’t that a powerful image?
Similarly, the Midrash explains, God told Moses to build the Mishkan, and Moses, in his humility and devotion, ensured that every detail reflected God's command. "As the Lord commanded Moses" became the refrain of the construction. God, seeing this immense honor, thought: Moses has accorded me all this honor, and yet I am inside the Mishkan, and he is outside?
Therefore, “He called to Moses.” God’s call wasn't just a summons. It was an invitation, an embrace. It was God drawing Moses into the innermost sanctum, into a closer relationship.
So, the next time you read the opening of Leviticus, remember this story. It's not just about rules and sacrifices. It's about relationship, about honor, and about the profound connection between God and humanity, exemplified by the unique bond between God and Moses. It reminds us that true service isn't about outward acts alone, but about the inner devotion that leads to a deeper, more intimate connection with the Divine.