Deuteronomy 4:41 – 43 “Then Moses set aside three cities across the Jordan to the east to which a manslayer could flee after killing his neighbor unintentionally without prior malice. To save his own life, he could flee to one of these cities: Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau belonging to the Reubenites, Ramoth in Gilead belonging to the Gadites, or Golan in Bashan belonging to the Manassites.”
Numbers 35:9 – 15 “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, designate cities to serve as your cities of refuge, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
The cities you select will be your six cities of refuge. Select three cities across the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan as cities of refuge. These six cities will serve as a refuge for the Israelites and for the foreigner or stranger among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.”
REFUGE! Why would anybody need refuge? Both the Mosaic law and the Code of Hammurabi included the law of lex talionis “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.” The penalty for murder was death, and that penalty was to be carried out by “the avenger of blood,” generally a close male relative of the deceased. But what if this death was accidental? What if two men are felling trees, and an ax head accidentally flies off and hits one of the men, killing him? The other man has no bad intent; must he die? The list of “What ifs” could be a long one.
God’s answer to this question is “No.” To that end, God appointed a total of six cities of refuge, 3 on the east side of the Jordan River three on the west side. These cities were distributed so that the innocent could readily reach one of the cities in time to save his own life.
What if the manslayer really did intend to commit murder? Number 35:16 – 18 gives us that answer as well: “If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death. Or if anyone has in his hand a stone of deadly size, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death. If anyone has in his hand a deadly object of wood, and he strikes and kills another, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death. The avenger of blood is to put the murderer to death; when he finds him, he is to kill him. Likewise, if anyone maliciously pushes another or intentionally throws an object at him and kills him, or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must surely be put to death; he is a murderer. When the avenger of blood finds the murderer, he is to kill him.
But if anyone pushes a person suddenly, without hostility, or throws an object at him unintentionally, or without looking drops a heavy stone that kills him, but he was not an enemy and did not intend to harm him, then the congregation must judge between the slayer and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. The assembly is to protect the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge to which he fled, and he must live there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.”
APPLICATION: It was the most terrible dream I had ever had! I dreamt that I murdered one of my co workers, although I did not mean to do so. Waking from my nightmare, I began searching my heart and mind. True, I had recently had a disagreement with this person, but I was more baffled than angry. Surely I was not harboring murder in my heart …. or was I? Proverbs 4:23 tells us, “Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance, for out of it flow the springs of life.”
To this day, I remember that dream and shudder! When I really dug deeper, I found that I was coldly furious with this person. The circumstances do not matter, but I realized that my heart attitude truly was murderous.
Accidents happen. Years ago, my husband was working on an electric circuit box in a factory. The electricity was supposed to be off; yet, when he touched the outside of the box, he got a shock that nearly knocked him off the ladder on which he was standing. An individual who had no idea what was going on saw the switch turned off and chose to turn it back on without checking with a supervisor.
There are times when each of us needs refuge. Live long enough and at some point, you will need a place of peace, a place of rest, an place of refreshing, a place of safety. Those who were granted refuge in the six cities were bound to remain in that refuge until the current high priest died; however, as long as they remained in that city, they were safe.
Where can we find refuge today? While we may not be able to find a physical refuge, we can certainly find a spiritual one. Moses told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 33:27 – 29 “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He drives out the enemy before you, giving the command, ‘Destroy him!’
So Israel dwells securely; the fountain of Jacob lives untroubled in a land of grain and new wine, where even the heavens drip with dew. Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is the shield that protects you, the sword in which you boast. Your enemies will cower before you, and you shall trample their high places.”
Psalm 46:1 tells us that “God is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble.” The manslayers in ancient Israel had to flee to cities of refuge and hope that the avenger of blood did not catch them on the way. But our refuge is only a prayer away. We can always ask God for help, for guidance, and for protection. “But,” you say, “I’ve done horrible things.” Do you think God does not already know what you have done? God knows more about you than you. But the Bible assures us in 1 John 1:8 – 9 “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us! We know that we have done wrong things that do not please You; yet, You have promised to forgive us, to clean us up, and to shelter and protect us. Show us the things we need to confess so that there will be no barrier between You and us. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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