On the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers each. And when all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, he said to them, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning.’” So they laid it aside till the morning, as Moses commanded them, and it did not stink, and there were no worms in it. Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, which is a Sabbath, there will be none.”
On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? See! The LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Remain each of you in his place; let no one go out of his place on the seventh day.” So the people rested on the seventh day.
Comment: Before they set out on their journey, did the Egyptians provide a smorgasbord meal for their slaves? The thought is laughable! We know from previous passages from Exodus that they had a set task to be done each day. I suspect that they had to grow their own food (no 24/7s) and prepare. But according to their complaining there were a variety of tasty meals to be prepared in a Kosher ‘manna’. God provided adequate but to them an inadequate variety of food. There are so many in the world today who struggle to get enough to eat and for many they find it in the rubbish bins of the wealthy! Sadly they had not learnt to obey simple instructions which were in place for their own good. God’s laws, some of which are in place for gentiles as well as Jews. our society hasn’t learnt to obey. Some of the Biblical commands were given before Israel existed as a people group. We would be so much better off if we learnt to live by them.
Prayer: Teach me to realize that Your commands are for my good! And give me, in doing them, the Joy and Peace which You promise – even if You allow a share of difficulty and even persecution!
As I read it! 