Israel Beloved as God's Single Lamb in Tanchuma Beshalach

Another interpretation: "But He made His people journey like a flock" (Psalms 78:52). Rabbi Berekhyah said: See how beloved Israel is before the Holy One, blessed be He, that He called them a lamb, as it is said, "Israel is a scattered lamb" (Jeremiah 50:17). And one who has a single lamb feeds it and gives it drink in its proper time, since it is but one; but one who has many sheep cannot attend to them, but rather toils greatly over them. See the love with which the Holy One, blessed be He, loved Israel, that He called them a flock, and He says, "I will multiply them like a flock" (Ezekiel 36:37).