This week we read Parshas Pekudai. The Parsha begins with the final calculations of the spending and usage of all the material and money that was used in the Tabernacle. The Torah then recounts the final steps before the actual construction of the Tabernacle. “And Moshe saw all they had made, and they did it just as Hashem had commanded, and Moses blessed them.” (Exodus 39:43) At first glance the wording used here is puzzling: after all, the work done on the Tabernacle until this point had involved a lot of commendable attributes shown by the Jews. Their donations showed a very deep amount of love of Hashem, an amazing quality of generosity, and abundance of wisdom. Why then, does the Torah mention only the fact that the Jews did everything “as Hashem had commanded Moses”? Why is this the one facet of all the work of the Jews that stood out and deserved to be mentioned?
Rav Chazkel Sarna, zt’l, commented that we see from here a fascinating point. More important than all other aspects of any mitzvah we do, is that the mitzvah is done as Hashem had commanded Moses. All other attributes are only a way for us to do a mitzvah as Hashem had commanded Moses.
The beauty of this thought is so simple, yet so often overlooked. How often are we met with an opportunity to help a cause we would like to, but it’s not exactly the way that Hashem commanded Moses? When we want to do a mitzvah, before we get caught up with all other thoughts, plans, or emotions, the first thing we must make sure is that the mitzvah is as Hashem had commanded Moses. A good deed or thought that isn’t the way Hashem had commanded Moses, is not one that we want to do or to be part of. Whether it is getting involved in helping a Synagogue, a school, or helping another Jew, we must always make sure that our involvement is as Hashem had commanded Moses. Then, He will hopefully grant us success and happiness in all that we do.