The Vineyard Whose Wine Good or Bad Belongs to the Owner

Rabbi Berekhiah in the name of Rabbi Levi: A parable to a king who had a vineyard and handed it over to a tenant-farmer. When it produced good wine, he would say, How good is the wine of my vineyard; and when it produced bad wine, he would say, How bad is the wine of my tenant's vineyard. The tenant said to him: My lord the king, when it produces good wine it is yours, and when it produces bad wine it is mine? Whether good or bad, it is yours. So at first the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: "And now go, and I will send you to Pharaoh, and bring forth My people the children of Israel" (Exodus 3:10). But when they did that deed, what is written there? "Go down, for your people have acted corruptly." Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the universe, when they sin they are mine, and when they are righteous they are Yours? Whether they sin or are righteous they are Yours; "and they are Your people and Your inheritance" (Deuteronomy 9:29). "Why, O LORD, should Your anger burn against Your people?" (Exodus 32:11). Rabbi Simon said: He did not cease showing them affection until He called them His own people, as it is said "And the LORD relented of the evil which He had spoken to do to His people."