What does the Bible say about grace and work?

In Exodus 5, we see the stark contrast between Pharaoh's demand for works and God's promise of grace. Pharaoh accuses the Israelites of being idle when they seek to worship God, insisting that they must work harder without any relief. This illustrates the common misconception that we must earn our salvation through works. In reality, grace is the unmerited favor of God that liberates us from the heavy burden of trying to earn His acceptance. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Therefore, true rest comes from trusting in God's grace rather than striving to fulfill impossible standards.