Consider this from myjewishlearning.com:
Midrash is a tool of interpretation which assumes that every word, letter, and even stroke of the pen in the Torah has meaning. Midrash Aggadah focuses on biblical narratives, Midrash Halakhah interprets legal passages. In modern times, midrash can include any retellings, additions, or twists on Torah stories.
http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Rabbinics/Midrash.shtml
Did the Rabbis believe their own midrashim? At this excellent blog post, the skilled blogger, Benjamin of Tudela, presents a fascinating short discussion of this question, and concludes:
It is evident to me, that there will not be a simple Yes/No answer to all midrashim, Rabbanim or periods of time. However, I believe that trying to find a broad answer is still informative, even if it must be followed by a qualitative "Lets check the individual case".
The question for each case is whether the writer presenting the midrashim thought he was uncovering history, or whether he believed the midrashim to be spiritual if not historical truths. Further discussion of the midrashim will have to be the subject of future posts. But we believers in Jesus have to give credit to the Rabbis. Their work product (the midrashim) as they ruminated over every word and letter of the Torah is evidence of their tremendous love for the word of God.
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