Eat It Today and the Promise of Shabbat

"And Moses said, eat it today" (Exodus 16:25). Because Israel were accustomed to go out in the morning, they said to him: Our master Moses, let us go out in the morning. He said to them: Eat it today. They said to him: Since we did not go out in the morning, let us go out toward evening. He said to them: "For today is a Sabbath unto the LORD" (Exodus 16:25). Because the heart of Israel was anxious at that hour, they said to him: Our master Moses, since we did not find it today, perhaps it will not be found tomorrow. He said to them: "Today you will not find it in the field" (Exodus 16:25); today you do not find it, but you will find it tomorrow. These are the words of Rabbi Yehoshua. Rabbi Eleazar Hisma says: In this world you do not find it; you will find it in the world to come. Rabbi Yehoshua says: Moses said to Israel, if you merit to keep the Sabbath, you will be saved from three calamities: from the day of Gog, from the day of the Messiah [the birth-pangs preceding him], and from the day of the great court of judgment. Rabbi Eleazar of Modi'in says: Moses said to Israel, if you merit to keep the Sabbath, the Omnipresent is destined to give you the Land of Israel, the world to come, a new world, the kingdom of the House of David, the priesthood, and the Levitical service.