Moses told the Israelites that breaking the Sabbath meant death, the same penalty as eating from the forbidden tree in Genesis. The speaker argues rest is a life-or-death divine principle, not optional, especially in a culture that works eight days a week.
Why would God invent a thing and then tell people, if you don't do it, you will die? Moses just came down from the mountain. He just received the second time the Ten Commandments. His face was shining with the glory of God. So then he gathered the congregation together, and the first thing— he just had the anointing, he had the glory. And the first thing he told the people of God, if you don't rest, you will die. There's a seriousness to rest that I don't think we truly comprehend. I mean, it's a wonder. I studied everything else, all the other things. I didn't find you will die. But when it came to rest, God said, you people, I permit you to work, but on the sixth day, if you dare work, you will die. That's very serious. That's weighty. I mean, when you think of the other times in the Bible where God says if you don't do this, or if you do this, you would die— I go back to Genesis when God said if you eat from this tree, you will die. So death is a very serious thing when it comes to God. So why is it coupled with rest? And do we know enough about this thing called rest? I mean, we thank God that we are not in the Old Covenant because I know 8 days a week many of you work.
