Refuge
I'm sure you have said it; "I can't believe it is already May; Christmas will be here before you know it!" It is as if we are caught off by the fact that the calendar and time keep on moving. We become overwhelmed, exhausted, tired, and ready for a break in that continued movement. We want to stop and rest for a few moments or days. Just the other day, my teenage son said, "Dad, I'm ready for a break, just one month of school is left!" At various times we all desire a break, a vacation, or seek our place of refuge. For some, it might be a mountain stream; sign me up! For others, it might be placing toes in the sand and listening to the ocean; sign my wife up! But refuge is also a place of safety for someone in trouble. In the biblical sense of the word, refuge provides an individual with peace and security. A refuge also offered protection from anyone who sought to harm the individual seeking refuge. God appointed these places of refuge in the promised land as it was commanded in Exodus and recorded in Joshua 20.
Last Sunday, we saw how God divided the land amongst seven tribes. The 12 tribes had now received a portion. The Levites inheritance was the Lord Himself, not the land as we read in previous chapters. In chapter 20, God appointed six cities of refuge in the land of Israel. In chapter 21, we count 42 cities bringing the total to 48 that were Levitical cities. These cities of refuge became an essential part of Israel's culture, very similar to that of the local church today.
The area of refuge was clearly an appointed place. Joshua 20:1-2 The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,
Through Moses, God spoke about the cities of refuge to the inhabitants of the promised land on several occasions. The first mention of a place of refuge was in Exodus 21. Exodus 21:12-13 He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death. However, if he did not lie in wait, but God delivered him into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee.
These places of refuge were appointed, but they were also easily accessible in the region. Think of today's local church. The locations included Kedesh, Napthali, Schechem, Ephraim, and the area of Hebron. Remember, we studied just last week in Joshua 19 about these tribes and their allotment. Within each tribe throughout the land, cities of refuge were placed; as a matter of fact, it six cities.
The cities of refuge were distributed throughout the land of Israel. Moses appointed three on the east side of the Jordan River. Moses commanded Joshua to set aside three more on the west side of the Jordan. Refuges were on both sides of the Jordan, from north to south. The refugees were in place to enable the manslayer a place of retreat and haven.
Another notable provision of these safe places was they were available to anyone, even the stranger. So Joshua 20:9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation. Verse 9 says that these cities were available to all. This included strangers who might dwell in Israel. There was to be no favoritism. Friends, God cared for all people and wanted all to receive mercy and justice. All had access to the cities of refuge.
Friends, how does this relate to us today? Do we need a place of refuge? According to my son, counting down the final days of school, yes, we do! But while we can justify a physical time of refuge, we need so much more. We have all broken God's law. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, all are guilty. You have heard this stated before as Paul wrote to the church in Rome; For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death.
So a place of refuge has been appointed for everyone that is willing to accept. Jesus said in John 12:32, And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all peoples to Myself." The cross is our place of refuge. In his letter to the church in Colossi, Paul understood this place of refuge in this way. Colossians 2:13-14 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
Friends, Christ nailed the charges against us to His cross. He took our sin upon Himself. The cross is our place of refuge; it is the place where God judged sin. Just like everyone in Joshua 20:9 had access to the physical areas of refuge in the promised land, everyone has access to the cross of Christ. Hebrews 6:17-18, So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:17-18 (ESV)