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Joshua Chapter 20 (ESV)

The Cities of Refuge

¹ Then the Lord said to Joshua, ² “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, ³ that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. ⁴ He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. ⁵ And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. ⁶ And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’”

⁷ So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.⁸ And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. ⁹ These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.

REFLECTION:

• The punishments for criminals under the laws of Moses take into consideration the motive behind the crime. If someone unintentionally commits manslaughter, they can flee to any one of the six cities of refuge to seek asylum. They must reside in that city until the death of the high priest at that time, after which they are granted forgiveness and can leave (v6). Subsequently, people cannot seek revenge against them for the previous crime of murder. The life of the high priest foreshadows the future sacrificial offering of Christ for sinners because true reconciliation can only be achieved after the debt of sin is paid in full.
• Where do you go (or to whom do you turn) when you feel in danger?
• In what way could your church be like a city of refuge for the needy?

PRAYER:

Loving Heavenly Father, You are a gracious and just God. You are my refuge, my fortress, my rock, my stronghold, my high tower, and my shield! I desire to take refuge in You all my life, and I pray that I may never be put to shame. When I find myself in distress with nowhere to turn, I ask that You, in Your righteousness, rescue me. When my spirit is weary, my eyes are dim, and my ears are heavy, I pray that You, for the sake of Your name, guide me and instruct me! Deliver me from the snares set by the enemy, for You are my security. I want to dwell under the shadow of Your wings all my life, and I long to dwell in Your presence. May Your grace and mercy surround me throughout my life! Heavenly Father, I confess that I am weak and have little faith. I often stumble, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Though I am fully aware that drawing near to You is beneficial for me, my heart is often enticed by the allure of the world. My spirit is constantly harassed by the enemy, who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour me! May Your church become a “refuge city” established by You for me and my brothers and sisters today. May we abide in this “refuge city,” watching over and supporting one another, experiencing heavenly peace and joy! Because You have forgiven our sins, strengthened our faith, deepened our wisdom, increased our courage, and shattered all the cunning schemes of the devil. Amen!

HYMN:

God Is My Refuge – youtu.be/CbHWjwJ9d-I