Shabbat before Matan Torah 

We sing it at the Seder table: ILU, ILU NATAN LANU, NATAN LANU ET HASHABBAT. If You had just given us the Shabbat and had not brought us close to Har Sinai — DAYEINU — we would have sufficient cause to acknowledge and thank You. 

Next week's sedra finds Bnei Yisrael at the foot of Har Sinai hearing the commands of Shabbat - to remember it by sanctifying it and not to do any manner of Melacha (creative activities of various types) on the Shabbat. We stood trembling under the fiery, smoky mountain, on sensory and emotional overload. But this was not our first introduction to Shabbat. That was this week, in the context of the Manna and its special "behavior" in honor of the Shabbat. 

When the Manna first fell, we were taught that each day takes care of itself – under G-d's supervision. We were commanded NOT to leave over any Manna from one day to the next. Then, with the approach of Shabbat, the People are told differently. We are first introduced to the specialness of Shabbat in the context of our sustenance. This is no small matter to the People. Newly freed slaves are exceptionally concerned about their water and food. The supply of quick-baked matza-breads they brought with them from Egypt has run out, they have had water problems (and miraculous solutions) already, and they are anxious about their food. Several days into the Manna, the people were beginning to appreciate G-d's blessings and miracles. In that context, we were introduced to this special day of the week that is catered to, prepared for by its preceding day, Erev Shabbat. 

Our not collecting Manna on Shabbat itself teaches us additional things. Shabbat is a day of rest. One is not to be "on the go" as he is during the week. T'chum Shabbat (Shabbat boundary) is the "minor" mitzva of Shabbat, in contrast to the "major" aspects of the prohibition of Melacha. Yet, it teaches us something special about Shabbat that can sometimes get lost among the prohibitions, Av Melachot, To'ladot, rabbinic prohibitions, and myriad of Shabbat customs and practices. Shabbat is a day to stay home. To relax and recharge one's spiritual batteries, and even to get some physical rest. 

B'shalach also gives us our own version of Manna - our special Shabbat food. Lechem Mishna, twin loaves, symbolically protected by "layers of dew" (our Challah board and covers). The practice of having 3 Shabbat meals comes from this week's parsha, in the context of the words, "For it is Shabbat to HaShem". That's our context for our three meals - especially the third, with its traditional focus on Divrei Torah. This is our pre-Sinai introduction to Shabbat. It is part of why Shabbat is so dear to us.