It's not like God shows mercy to Israel for a year or two and then calls it quits! The Midrash suggests something much deeper is at play here.

Think about the Torah, for instance. Moses gave it to us, and the Midrash sees the Torah itself as an act of profound mercy. Proverbs 31:26 says of the woman of valor, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness." The Torah, according to this reading, isn't just a set of rules, but an expression of divine compassion. And crucially, it wasn't a temporary loan! Deuteronomy 33:4 reminds us that "Moses commanded us a law, as an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob." It's ours, passed down through generations. All of God's mercies, the Midrash insists, are like that. They endure. Lamentations 3:22 says it so powerfully: "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not."

But what kind of good are we talking about? The Midrash then shifts gears, offering an analogy. Imagine a homeowner who lends to everyone in town. During the rainy season, everyone sings his praises. But when the hot season rolls around, he starts asking for collateral – three rocks from each person.

Then, someone comes along and says, "I'll give you everything you need, and I only want one rock in return." People might switch their allegiance. But then another person shows up and says, "I'll give it to you for free." Well, now we're talking! It’s fitting to give thanks to the one who gives freely.

The point? God sustains us, His creatures, freely. There are no hidden costs, no collateral demanded. It is fitting to give thanks to the Lord, ki tov, "for He is good." He doesn't just offer temporary relief or a better deal; He offers unconditional and enduring support.

It makes you think, doesn't it? About the nature of gratitude. About the difference between a transaction and a gift. And ultimately, about the kind of relationship we want to have with the Divine. Are we focused on the "rocks" we might have to give up, or on the boundless, freely-given goodness that surrounds us, always?