Bamidbar

The passuk states, “and Moshe counted the Levi’im על פי ה’.” Rashi writes that Moshe said before Hashem, “How can I go into their tents to know how many babies there are inside?” Hashem answered, “You do yours – what you can – and I’ll do the rest.” Moshe went to the doors of the tents and the Shechina entered before him, and a bas kol announced, “there is this number of little children in the tent.” That is what is meant by the words, “על פי ה’, by the declaration of Hashem.”

Rav Zaidel Epstein asks: if the bas kol announced how many children there were, why was it necessary for Moshe to go to the tents? Rav Zaidel explains that this teaches us that a person needs to do what is in his hands – what he is able to do, and shouldn’t say that he can’t. After he does what is in his ability to do, Hashem will assist him to reach even further, to that which he couldn’t accomplish and complete on his own.

We find this idea by Bas Pharaoh as well. She went down to the river to wash and she saw a basket. She sent out her hand and took it. Rav Nachman writes that her hand extended out although she was far away and unable to physically reach the basket. Bas Pharaoh did all that she could do to help save the child and Hashem helped and even performed a miracle to enable her to accomplish her goal.

Similarly, regarding teshuva, Rabeinu Yona writes that Hashem will help a person who wants and tries to return, to reach levels that are not naturally within the person’s grasp.

The passuk states, “וקוי ה’ יחליפו כח, and one who hopes and leans towards Hashem, He will exchange – renew his koach.” The Gemara references this passuk regarding the Torah. Hashem will give a person who desires to learn, new kailim and more strength to toil and understand the Torah.

May Hashem help us desire and strive for new levels, and be able to reach higher than our potential!