Every. Single. One.
Think about the logistics! As it says in Bamidbar Rabbah (Numbers Rabbah), Moses was understandably a little… hesitant. "You want me to go into every courtyard, every house, and personally count each infant?" he basically asked God. "That's what You're asking of me?"
It's a very human moment, isn't it? Moses, despite his immense faith and power, is still a man grappling with a seemingly impossible task.
But here's where it gets really interesting. God's response wasn't to just brush aside Moses' concerns. Instead, God said, "You do yours, and I will do Mine."
What does that even mean?
Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi bar Rabbi Shalom offers a beautiful interpretation. He says that Moses would go and stand at the entrance of each tent. Then, the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, would draw near and tell him exactly how many children were inside. "Five in this house," the Divine Presence would whisper. "Ten in that tent."
In essence, Moses did what he could – he showed up, he made himself available, he stood at the threshold. And God, in turn, met him there.
That’s why the Torah says, "Moses counted them according to the directive of the Lord." It wasn't just Moses counting; it was a collaborative effort, a partnership between the human and the Divine. The Divine Presence showed him.
This little story from Bamidbar Rabbah isn't just a historical anecdote. It's a powerful reminder that even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, we're not alone. We have to do our part, take that first step, stand at the entrance of the "tent." And then, perhaps, we might just find that the Divine Presence is there to meet us, guiding us, and helping us complete the impossible.
So, what's your impossible task right now? And what's your "entrance to the tent"? Maybe the Divine Presence is waiting just around the corner to help you count.