What significance does the "sixth day" hold in Exodus 16:5's context?

◄ What is the "sixth day" in Exodus 16:5? ►

“On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

What happened on days one through five?

• Each morning, manna appeared with the dew (Exodus 16:14–18).

• The people gathered only enough for that day; excess rotted and bred worms (Exodus 16:19–20).

• Daily gathering trained Israel to trust God for fresh provision every sunrise.

What is unique about the sixth day?

• A double portion fell—literal extra flakes on the ground (Exodus 16:22).

• What was baked or boiled on that day miraculously remained fresh for the next day; “it did not stink, nor were there any maggots” (Exodus 16:24).

• No manna appeared on the seventh day (Exodus 16:27).

• Any attempt to gather on the Sabbath ended in futility and rebuke (Exodus 16:28-29).

Why did God single out the sixth day?

1. Preparation for Sabbath rest

– “Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD” (Exodus 16:23).

2. Testing obedience

– “I will test them to see whether they will follow My instructions” (Exodus 16:4).

3. Demonstrating providence

– The double portion underscored that God supplies enough in six days to sustain His people through the seventh without toil.

4. Cementing a rhythm of worship

– Rest on the Sabbath meant dedicating the day to remember and honor Yahweh rather than labor for bread.

Connection to the Creation order

• God worked six days and rested on the seventh (Genesis 2:2-3).

• The miracle of the sixth-day double portion mirrors that pattern, rooting Sabbath observance in the literal creation week.

Foreshadowing the Fourth Commandment

• Exodus 20:8-11 later codifies the same six-plus-one rhythm: “Six days you shall labor… but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.”

• Exodus 16 is the practical dress rehearsal before Sinai gives the formal commandment.

Theological takeaways

• Provision: God supplies more than enough within His appointed timeframes.

• Dependence: Trust is built when work ceases yet needs are still met (Matthew 6:31-33).

• Holiness: The Sabbath is “holy to the LORD” (Exodus 16:23), set apart for divine purposes, not personal convenience.

• Covenant identity: Observing the sixth-day preparatory act marked Israel as a people who believe God’s word literally and arrange life around it.

Lessons for believers today

• Plan ahead so that rest and worship are not crowded out by last-minute survival tasks.

• Receive God’s provision gratefully, resisting anxiety about tomorrow.

• Honor the rhythm God embedded in creation—work diligently, but embrace His commanded rest (Hebrews 4:9-10).