Day 11 - Joshua 20

From: Chapter-A-Day: Volume 2 By: Norman W. Berry

Joshua 20 • 1 min. read • grade level: 10

V.1-3 The Lord reminds Joshua of what He had told Moses. Israel and we are guilty of murder willfully, for we both have rejected God and crucified His Christ. “This is the heir,” (ch. 19:48) they said, come, let us kill Him, and let us seize on His inheritance” (Matt. 21:38³⁸But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. (Matthew 21:38)) and “We shall not have this man to reign over us” (Luke 19:14¹⁴But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. (Luke 19:14)).

The death of Jesus on the cross would enable God to forgive Israel, but His death also is the payment for their individual sins.

V.4-9 The elders were to listen to the killer’s story and give him the benefit of the doubt, protecting him from those who would do him harm. The assembly of that city was to make the final decision, if the avenger presented his side of the case. If an avenger never came, the slayer was not free until the death of the high priest then living.

V.6 The death of the High Priest was release for the slayer. The Lord is our High Priest, as illustrated by Aaron.

So we believers are eternally secure from Satan’s power as the “avenger” who would destroy every believer if he could (Heb. 7:24-26²⁴But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. ²⁵Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. ²⁶For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; (Hebrews 7:24‑26)).

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