Even Moses, our great leader, faced such dilemmas, and the stories of how he navigated them are They reveal not just his wisdom, but also a glimpse into the Divine hand at play in human affairs.

The book of Bamidbar, or Numbers, in the Torah, recounts some of these tricky situations. Take the selection of the seventy elders. God commands Moses to choose them (Numbers 11:16). But how do you pick from so many people, especially when you need representation from each tribe?

As we learn in Sifrei Bamidbar, Moses wrestled with this. How could he choose fairly when the numbers didn't divide evenly among the tribes? He couldn't possibly pick six from each tribe, and then only five from a couple of others. That would be a recipe for tribal conflict!

So, what did he do? According to this tradition, Moses took seventy ballots and wrote "zaken" – elder – on them. Then, he created two blank ballots. He mixed them all together in a box and had the people draw. Those who drew a ballot marked "zaken" were told, "The L-rd has already selected you!" And those who drew a blank? Moses explained, "It is the will of Heaven – what can I do?" Was it chance? Was it truly the “will of Heaven?” However you interpret it, the story highlights the tension between human action and divine decree. It also shows Moses' ingenuity in diffusing a potentially explosive situation.

We find a similar story dealing with the redemption of the firstborn sons. Remember, the firstborn were originally meant to serve in the Temple, but that role was later given to the Levites. So, how do you fairly determine which firstborn are “redeemed” by a Levite, and which have to pay five shekels – the redemption money – to the Cohanim, the priests?

Again, Moses turned to a lottery system. He put 22,000 ballots labeled “Levite” and 273 ballots labeled “five shekalim” into a box. The firstborn drew, and just as before, Moses declared the results as divinely ordained.

These stories might seem like simple solutions to logistical problems, but they reveal a deeper truth about leadership and faith. They suggest that even in the most complex situations, a leader can find a way to create fairness and acceptance by appealing to a higher power.

But there's another layer to this story, one that involves humility and unexpected reward. The text also recounts the story of Eldad and Medad. When they saw Moses selecting elders, they felt unworthy and hid themselves. They thought they weren't deserving of such an honor.

And what happened? According to R. Shimon, God said, "You lowered yourselves; I will exalt you above all the others!" While the other seventy elders prophesied only on that single day, Eldad and Medad continued to prophesy in the camp until their deaths. As it says in Bamidbar 11:27, "They are prophesying in the camp."

And what were they saying? "Moses will die and Joshua will bring Israel to Eretz Yisrael" – the Land of Israel.

This little detail is so powerful. It shows that true greatness isn't about seeking honor, but about embracing humility. Eldad and Medad's self-effacement led to a unique and lasting prophetic gift.

So, what can we take away from these stories? Perhaps it’s this: that even in the face of impossible choices, a blend of human ingenuity and faith can lead to surprising and meaningful outcomes. And that sometimes, the greatest rewards come to those who least expect them, to those who embody humility. What do you think?