Being Proud About the Mishkan Atoned for Being Proud About the Eigel HaZahav

The following thought comes from the sefer Nachalas Eliezer, written by Rav Eliezer Kahan zt”l, who was Rosh Mesivta and Menahel in the Gateshead Yeshiva in England.

The Medrash says as follows on the words “Eleh pekudei haMishkan” (These are the reckonings of the Mishkan) (Shemos 38:21). “At the time you made the Golden Calf and danced around it, you angered Me with the words “Eleh Elohecha Yisroel (This is your god O Israel) that brought you up from the Land of Egypt” (Shemos 32:4). Now that you made the Mishkan with the word eleh, my anger has been appeased, as this eleh atones for the earlier eleh.”