God knew that we would have that tendency. He knew we would have the propensity to ignore certain commandments and only follow others by example. That's why He took leisure to the next level.
The Bible says that God worked for six straight days to create the universe and everything in it. What did He do on the seventh day? He rested. He took the time off to enjoy what He had done (Exodus 20:11).
I want to make something very clear at this point. God did not need to rest. He didn't get to the end of His work week and say, "Whew! I'm exhausted. I think I'll just take it easy for a day"
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God is allpowerful, and allpowerful beings don't need rest! The inexhaustible one never gets exhausted. So He didn't need to take the time off. But we are not allpowerful, inexhaustible beings. Sorry to burst your bubble.
God deliberately rested as an example for you and me as a way to say, "Follow my lead."He knew that we would need the rest, so He showed us how to do it.
The Why
I am a selfproclaimed "why guy." I can't just read or hear something and accept it at face value. Maybe you are the same and you're wondering, Why has God commanded leisure? Sure, He's modeled it, but why? What's the rationale behind it?
There are three reasons God has given us leisure, and they all center on the fact that He loves us and wants what is best for our lives. He wants us to truly experience an abundant life on this planet, not just exist. He wants us to thrive, not just survive.
The Physical Reason
After we work for six days, our physical bodies just simply require rest. We need a break physically to maintain optimal performance. According to the American Heart Association, there is evidence of a relationship between the risk of cardiovascular disease and stress. Not only that, but stress also causes a kaleidoscopic range of ailments ranging from sleeplessness to ulcers. So how do you begin to fight the battle? It's very simple. Take some time off.
When Jesus was on earth, He recognized how crucial leisure was to His work. Time and time again during His life, Jesus took a break after working (Mark 6:31-32). During His teaching ministry, Jesus said that He came to this earth to give rest to those who were weary and burdened (Matt. 11:28). He recognized the importance of retreating and recovering physically front work. So if Jesus, the only Son of God, recognized the importance of leisure, we should follow suit.
The Spiritual Reason
There is also a spiritual reason for leisure. So many people are walking around spiritually malnourished because they don't take any time to get the spiritual food that they need. They are drained and strained because they don't connect with God on a regular basis.