City of Refuge
In Numbers chapter 35 we find God’s instructions to Moses to have six cities set aside as cities of refuge. If someone killed someone he could flee to one of these cities and he would be safe until there was a fair trial. If someone killed another person with “malice and aforethought“ and was found guilty the penalty was death. No ifs, ands or buts about it. If someone killed another person unintentionally, it was an accident, he could flee to a city of refuge, and be found innocent but he had to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. The innocent person was only safe as long as he stayed in the city of refuge. If someone wanting to avenge their loved one’s death found him outside of the city he could execute that person, and would not be found guilt of murder.
This instruction from the Lord might sound strange to us, but the application is far from strange. We are all guilty. Maybe not of murder, but we are guilty of breaking God’s laws. All of us deserve to pay the penalty for our sin. We are not like the innocent person who killed someone accidentally. But God has provided a “city of refuge” for us; in this case not for the innocent but for the guilty. And just as one accused of causing the death of another was safe only as he remained in the city of refuge, we are only safe as long as we remain in Jesus Christ.
The root of the word “refuge” has the thought of “taking in” or “giving asylum.” The dictionary definition is “protection or shelter from danger or hardship.” God has provided all of that for us. He has taken us in and gives us protection from the danger of eternal punishment. “The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deut. 33:27) “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psa. 45:1) Being in the city of refuge not only has eternal benefits but benefits in this present life; a God we can run to in times of trouble and difficulty for protection strength, and wise counsel.
Paul was referring to a city of refuge when he wrote in Heb. 6:18b-19a “we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”
John 5:11. “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” As long as we remain in the Son we are in that place of refuge and have the promise of life; an abundant life (John 10:10) here on this earth, and eternal life in the age to come.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - Numbers 36, Psalm 80, Isaiah 28, 2 John 1
God is good all the time,
Naomi Brinkman
1 comment:
Thanks for the wisdom Naomi! Great insight!
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