Why Israel Thanks God for Mercy Precisely Because It Rebelled

"The unwalled towns ceased in Israel" (Judges 5:7). Rabbi Samuel bar Nachmani went up from Babylon to ask three things, and he found Rabbi Yochanan, the official of the capital. He said to him: What is the meaning of "The unwalled towns ceased in Israel, they ceased"? He said to him: The small cities that were laid waste in the days of Sisera — once Deborah arose, they became like mothers (Judges 5:7). He further asked him: What is the meaning of "To the LORD our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, for we have rebelled against Him" (Daniel 9:9)? It should have said, "for we have kept His Torah." Rabbi Yochanan said to him: It is well written. In the way of the world, a laborer who works for a householder faithfully, and the householder pays him his wage — what gratitude does the worker owe him? But when does the worker hold him in high esteem? When he does not work for him faithfully, and yet the householder still pays him his wage. He said to him: Have you ever seen in your life servants who rebel against a king, and he still supplies them with their food? He said to him: It is written, "They made a calf at Horeb" — and yet the manna came down for them.