Shabbat Commentary - Tetzaveh

In the last few Torah Portions, we've seen God play many roles. Now, in this week's Parasha (Portion), Tetzaveh, we see God as Fashion Designer, describing in minute detail the Priest's clothing and ornaments.
In addition, God tells Moses of the ritual offerings which the Priest, Aaron, and his sons shall make.
In the final verses of Tetzaveh, God reminds Moses that for the "children of Israel" "...I am YHWH, their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt for me to tent among them. I am YHWH, their God." (Exodus 29:46)

By commanding Moses to communicate to the Israelites God's detailed instructions for the Mishkan and its furnishings, for the Priestly clothing, and for the ritual offerings, God is partnering with the Israelites or as they are called in Tetzaveh, "the children of Israel."
God is trusting in their intellect, creative ability, morality, and faith. God is setting the stage for the Israelites to demonstrate that they are capable of forming a strong, moral community of believers, governed by the laws which God has commanded and worshipping together in the manner and place that God has prescribed. God has set forth visionary plans for the children of Israel to follow, but it is not God who will embroider the curtains, craft the acacia wood, gild the Ark, fringe the Priestly garments, or prepare the offerings. All these complex Divinely ordained tasks will be done by human hands, the hands of God's partners, the children of Israel.
What a wondrous arrangement! What a supreme honor and awesome responsibility for the Israelites!

And what are those Israelites actually doing while Moses receives God's words on the mountain top? It would be a pleasant Shabbat image to imagine the children of Israel diligently striving to live by the Ten Commandments which they received from God only 40 days before; striving to fulfill their promise to God that, "We'll do everything that YHWH has spoken." (Exodus 19:8)
SPOILER ALERT! If you find this image of righteous, faithful Israelites comforting, please read no further. Shabbat Shalom.

Those of you who remember the Israelites whining in the wilderness after directly experiencing God's miracles in Egypt and at the Red Sea, may be skeptical. You may be doubting the chilldren of Israel's ability to maintain their faith in One God during Moses' absence. Well, sad to say, you're on the right track!
Until next week - and the Big Bovine Mistake...
Shabbat Shalom - Rest and Renew

Resource: Torah Text translations are taken from Commentary on the Torah by Richard Elliott Friedman