Another matter, “Behold, I will rain down bread for you from the heavens,” that is what is written: “I responded to those who did not ask” (Isaiah 65:1). What is written prior to the matter? “The entire congregation of the children of Israel complained” (Exodus 16:2). What complaint was there?
The food that they took out with them from Egypt made them sixty-one meals, and they ate it for thirty-one days. That dough was finished and in the evening they complained, as it is stated: “The entire congregation of the children of Israel complained.” They should have come to say to him: ‘That dough is finished.’ Instead, they came to him contentiously, and said: “For you have taken us out of Egypt to this wilderness to kill this entire assembly in famine” (Exodus 16:3).
They said: ‘Famine of food and famine of water.’ When they complained, [God’s] anger should have emerged against them immediately, but He did not do so to them. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘They acted characteristically,5Contrarian and complaining. and I will act characteristically.6Merciful and forgiving. Say to them: In the morning the manna will fall for you.’
That is, “I responded to those who did not ask.” It would have been appropriate for them, once their cake was finished, that they would stand and request mercy from before Me. Instead, they stood and poured out grievances toward Heaven. Therefore, the verse states: “Behold Me, behold Me, to a nation that did not invoke My name” (Isaiah 65:1).
Why does it say “behold Me” twice? Behold, it was Me at the spring, as it is stated: “Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock” (Exodus 17:6). And behold, it was I [who provided] the manna, as it is stated: “Behold, I will rain down bread for you from the heavens.”