In the early weeks of the Exodus the Israelites were in a challenging "in-between" position, what social scientists call a "liminal space." They had been uprooted from everything that was familiar to them and were without a home. They were on their way to Sinai, where they would learn about their new identity. (For further discussion, see chapter 1 of Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters by Carmen Joy Imes.)
During this period God was very patient with his people and taught them many lessons on their journey. Three days after the sea crossing, he miraculously provided clean water at Marah, in effect reversing the first plague of the Exodus. He let the Israelites know that they would not be receiving plagues if they followed him faithfully (Exod 15:22-27).
Then he began sending daily rations of manna, a marvelous food (Exod 16). On Sunday through Thursday the Israelites were to pick up enough of the manna for that day. And however much each family gathered, each family had enough to eat. But if they tried to set any aside overnight, it would spoil.
On Friday, on the other hand, they were to gather twice as much as on other days. The Friday manna did not spoil when they saved it overnight, and they could then rest on Saturday with no need to gather manna that day.
With the manna God taught the Israelites to trust in him to provide their "daily bread." With that trust they would not have to worry where their next meal was coming from, and they could rest every week on the Sabbath.
They also learned to just pick up what they needed, so that everyone would have enough (v 18). Paul quotes this verse in 2 Cor 8:15 in an exhortation for Christians to provide for those in need.
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