Joshua 20 - Cities of Refuge

Click to read Joshua 20

(The previous 9 chapters can be accessed through the links on the side bar. To access chapters before those listed, go to the All Chapters section.)

Synopsis

God had instructed Moses to designate 6 out of the 48 cities/towns that were allotted to the people, to be cities of refuge (Num 35:6-8). Those cities were needed to protect the innocent, who might have accidentally killed another person. In ancient customs of justice, revenge was the norm. However, God had planned a system of government that would both express His mode of justice and show His mercy. The Levites were to be supervisors of those cities as they were expected to be impartial judges.

This was how the cities of refuge worked:

1. A person who accidentally killed another can seek refuge in any of those cities until a fair trial could be convened.
2. Being admitted into a city of refuge kept him safe from the avenger till he got a hearing.
3. The elder of the city had to conduct a preliminary hearing at the city gate to determined if there was a case to accept the refugee.
4. If the killing was judged to be accidental, the refugee would be kept in the city for his own safety. He would live there until the death of the high priest. Thereafter, he would be free to go.
5. If judged to have committed murder, the refugee would be delivered to the avengers.

What I learnt

God's law and mercy go hand-in-hand. While He must uphold justice, He also provides mercy and grace. For us, He provided the path for us to escape His eternal wrath upon sinners by delivering His Son to pay for the "murder" of holiness by mankind. He judged and declared believers with the verdict of "not guilty" by making Jesus guilty on our behalf. We are safe in His city of eternal refuge for eternity as our High Priest lives. Hallelujah !

Summary

We can rest in His city of eternal refuge when we believe in Christ Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. Do not doubt for a second that He will send us to the pit of hell ever. Our High Priest lives on for eternity, and so will us, with Him!.

Up next ....

Learn about the Levites in the next chapter....to be posted on 2 Apr...