In Exodus chapter sixteen, verse thirty, the people rested on the seventh day. The Israelites were able by God through Moses to gather twice as much on the sixth day for the next. Moses emphasizes what the Lord said in verse twenty-three of the same chapter: “Tomorrow is the rest day of the holy sabbath unto the Lord: bake which you will bake today, and boil that ye will boil: and that which remaineth over lay for you to keep until the morning.” God said to Moses in verse twenty-eight, “How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws?”
The seventh day known as the Sabbath is a day of rest. Not like lying down or inactivity but ceasing from regular work. Compare the idea to a lawyer resting a case, meaning the person refrains arguments. It was not the day of the week that made it a sabbath but what the people did on that day.
Through His instructions regarding the seventh day, God wanted to emphasize that His people were to respond by resting, just as He rested on the seventh day of creation. God understood if His people failed to observe the Sabbath, they would deplete their physical and spiritual strength by continual earthly worries and pursuits; this failure would result in spiritual, godly concerns relegated to a place of the slightest importance for their lives.
Today, the seventh or Sabbath day is the ongoing debate between some religions as to what day it falls under, Saturday or Sunday. However, that day should be, if possible, for God to rest. The day of rest does not mean you are not allowed to warm your food on the stove or microwave, but things that would consume your mind away from focusing on God. However, there are situations beyond our control regarding work where an employer may need employees to come in now and then to fulfill their company agendas. Still, if there is an option not to go to work, but you opt to go, God sees and knows where your heart is.