Sh'mot 31:12-15 And the L-RD spoke to Moshe, saying, "But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My Shabbats (Sabbaths); for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the L-RD who sanctifies you. 'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the L-RD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death.
This certainly appears evil, to be killed just for working on the Sabbath, but it was for the good of the people to rest and rejuvenate themselves. The Messiah also offers a rest to those that want to observe it but eternal spiritual death is given to those that choose not to trust in it. The consequences are everlasting. Once we come to our Messiah we no longer trust in our own flesh to please G-d but allow the Spirit to work in us. Our obedience comes from appreciation for what the L-rd has done for us. We can rest in this assurance and the promise that what He has done is satisfaction enough so that judgment will pass when it comes time for our eternal redemption.
Romans 4:3-4 For the Scriptures tell us Avraham believed G-d, and that is why G-d canceled his sins and declared him "not guilty." But didn't he earn his right to heaven by all the good things he did? No, for being saved is a gift; if a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn't be free-but it is! It is given to those who do not work for it. For G-d declares sinners to be good in His sight if they have faith in Messiah to save them from G-d's wrath. (TLB)
Hebrews 4:1-11 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as G-d has said, "So I declared on oath in my anger, `They shall never enter my rest.'" And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day G-d rested from all his work." And again in the passage above he says, "They shall never enter my rest." It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. Therefore G-d again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Y'hoshua had given them rest, G-d would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of G-d; for anyone who enters G-d's rest also rests from his own work, just as G-d did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
Sh'mot 31:16-17 'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.' "It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the L-RD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed."
It is still good to rest and be rejuvenated. It is even better to receive the eternal rest that the Messiah offers to us by faith.
Therefore, repent (t'shuvah) and turn to G-d, so that your sins may be taken away; so that times of refreshing may come from the L-rd's presence...It is a very simple thing. Just repeat these words with a sincere heart.
Father, I am a sinner. Forgive me for the wrong I have done. Thank you for sending Your Son to die for me. I trust that His blood takes away my sin. Come into my heart and life. I turn my life over to You today for eternal shalom and rest with you. Amen.
Hebrews 11:23-40 By faith Moshe, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moshes, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of G-d, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the first-born might not touch them. By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because G-d had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Sh'mot 31:18 And when He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moshe the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of G-d. NAS
The Word of G-d would come down to the people but would be crushed because of their transgressions. This was for their own good, if not they all would have to die according to the word. HaShem instead showed mercy to those that choose to follow Him. Today Yeshua's mercy is available. Do you choose to follow Him? He was crushed for our transgressions. It was horrible but was for our own good. The tablets after being crushed would rise again. Yeshua too rose again. We too may be tortured, mocked, scourged, chained and imprisoned in this world but we too have the promise of rising again. Don't reject this word from the Father although it may appear evil. Don't be among those who reject the cornerstone of our faith. Just repent and trust in the living stone.
Tehillim (Psalms) 118:22-23 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone. This is the L-rd's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 28:16 Therefore thus says the L-rd G-D, "Look, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.
1 Kefa (Peter) 2:1-5 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the L-rd. And coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of G-d, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to G-d through Yeshua HaMashiach.