Life in Joshua 20 time was so different than today that it is hard to relate. If you killed someone back then, the next of kin could (and should) avenge the dead relative’s life by taking yours; an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. Say an accident happens while chopping wood, or your ox-cart rolls over and kills your neighbor… was it an accident or a planned incident? To the avenger of your blood it didn’t really matter, he could kill you; eye or eye, tooth for tooth, life for life. Such was justice.
To provide time to determine accident or incident, God established these cities of refuge to which the innocent could flee for safety to buy time for a hearing to prove his/her innocence. Cities of refuge were not a “free pass” for murder but a time out or a safety zone for truth to be determined so justice could prevail.
Cities of refuge would be most helpful for the average or little person. A wealthy person could probably protect themselves. However, the regular person living land-to-mouth was the person who needed the city of refuge. And God provided.
My mind slips back to 2 books I read late in’09, The Hole in Our Gospel (Rich Sterns) and Too Small to Ignore (Wess Stafford). In different ways these two books make the case from Scripture for caring for the least of these in our world, Matthew 25 kind of living and teaching. The cities of refuge in First Testament
Lord, so far my thoughts today seem to be more Bible study, facts and truths, what is it You want me to do with this ‘study?’ How would You have me apply it? Where should I go with these thoughts You are stirring within me? Speak Holy Spirit. Push me, if need be, to those uncomfortable places where faith results in action. In what ways, Lord, do I need to become a present day city of refuge? How is Your church to be a city of refuge?...
Jesus, today I have many questions, but few answers. Speak, direct, lead, show, reveal. I am listening and looking…
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