Cities for Refuge
A REFUGE, is a safe place to go in trouble. “The Lord shake unto Moses saying: Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the laud of Canaan; then ye shall appoint you cities... . of refuge. . . . that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person unawares.” Numbers 35:10,1110Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan; 11Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. (Numbers 35:10‑11).
There were to be six of these safe cities; three on the east side of Jordan for the tribes who stayed on that side, and three in Canaan. Moses spoke of them in his last talk. (Deut. 3:41-44 and 19:2-12).
This was God’s plan to protect from the anger of others, anyone who had by accident killed a person, one whom he had not meant to hurt, and felt no hatred toward. As, if two men were cutting, wood, and the ax broke off and one was killed, and his friends were angry at the other man, he could run to the nearest of the refuge cities. There the gate was to be opened to him, and the judges to hear his cause, and keep him in safety.
These cities were to be known to all and the roads made very direct, so a man would know just where to go, and could run quickly. But anyone who willfully killed another, could not be kept in a refuge city; such ones must be given over to be punished.
Do you think a man who had so serious a trouble as the man with the ax would wait to run to the safe city? When we know we are sinners shall we wait to go to the Lord Jesus?
ML 12/26/1937