Jewish tradition has a fascinating way of showing us that sometimes, just sometimes, we need a little divine… addition.

Let’s turn to a text called Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a wonderful collection of stories and interpretations from around the 8th century CE. In Chapter 39, we find ourselves at the border of Egypt. Jacob, our patriarch, is leading his family down into exile. The text paints a vivid picture: a genealogical count, a meticulous record of those making the journey.

They tallied up all the males. Sixty-six they counted. Add Joseph and his two sons already in Egypt, and that brings the total to sixty-nine. But wait a minute! Deuteronomy 10:22 clearly states, "With seventy persons thy fathers went down into Egypt." So, what gives?

According to Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, the Holy One, Blessed be He, stepped in. God Himself joined the count, becoming the missing "one," making the total seventy. It’s as if God said, "You are not going into this alone. I am with you, filling the gap, making you whole." This fulfills God’s promise in Genesis 46:4, "I will go down with thee into Egypt."

But the story doesn't end there. Fast forward to the Exodus. Generations later, the Israelites are finally leaving Egypt, emerging from slavery into freedom. Another count takes place. This time, it's the mighty men, the warriors, the ones ready to forge a new nation. The count comes to 599,999. Again, one is missing.

And what does the Holy One, blessed be He, do? The same thing! God joins the ranks, making the total 600,000. Again, it’s that promise from Genesis 46:4 echoing through the ages: "I will go down with thee into Egypt, and I will also surely bring thee up again." God isn't just there for the descent; God is there for the ascent, too.

What are we to make of this? Why these specific numbers, and why this need for divine intervention to reach completion? Maybe it’s not about the literal numbers at all. Maybe it’s about the profound message that we are never truly alone in our journeys, in our struggles, in our triumphs. Even when we feel incomplete, like something is missing, God is there, ready to fill the void.

The Midrash, those collections of rabbinic interpretations of scripture, often uses numerical symbolism to convey deeper meanings. The number 70, for example, is often associated with completeness and universality. The 70 nations of the world, the 70 elders of Israel... By ensuring the count reaches 70, God is signaling that this journey is about something bigger than just one family. It’s about the destiny of a people.

And the 600,000? That number represents the entire nation of Israel at its birth. It’s the collective soul emerging from the crucible of slavery. And again, God is an integral part of that soul.

So, the next time you feel like you're coming up short, remember this story from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer. Remember the sixty-nine and the 599,999. Remember that even in our incompleteness, we are held, we are supported, we are made whole by something greater than ourselves. Maybe, just maybe, that’s the point. We are not meant to do it all alone. We are meant to connect, to rely, to find strength in the divine presence that accompanies us on every step of our journey.