Deuteronomy 19:4-7 - . "If someone accidentally kills a neighbor
without harboring any previous hatred, the slayer may flee to any of these
cities and be safe. For example, suppose someone goes into the
forest with a neighbor to cut wood. And suppose one of them swings an ax and
the ax head flies off the handle, killing the other person. In such cases, the
slayer could flee to one of the cities of refuge and be safe. If the distance to the nearest
city of refuge was too far, an enraged avenger might be able to chase down and kill
the person who caused the death. The slayer would die, even though there was no
death sentence and the first death had been an accident. That is why I am commanding
you to set aside three cities of refuge.
Moses instructed them to set aside 3 cities
in the new land to be places of refuge.
They were to be spaced evenly apart and easily assessable. The roads
were to be kept in good condition. These
cities would become safe havens for those that God allowed accidents to happen….accidents
that would take the life of another human…accidents that would hurt the loved
ones so much they might become enraged…and try to avenge their death without
consulting God.
We might be tempted to skip over these verses
as unimportant…as instructions for just the Israelites…in a day and time that
has passed and no longer relevant to us today…but God included them in his
Bible as an example of how we must always balance justice with mercy. Some things just happen…they are no one
person’s fault….and God does not intend that they should be punished. A hunter’s
bullet deflected from a tree…a slick road caused the car to skid too far in one
direction…or a baby wanders out of a home into a busy street. All accidents…no fault can be found in the
deaths that result.
God knows the human heart…and Satan’s
ability to twist the hurt from loss into an anger that distorts the situation …and
makes a person think that some punishment will heal their hurt. He knew that the temptation to avenge some
loved ones accidental death would cause even greater hurt….so he instructed
them to always have a place for an innocent man to live...in safety and peace. God made sure that someone always had a place
to live…while the truth was decided.
It couldn’t have been easy for a person to
run to one of these cities. They would have to leave their families…and all the
friends they loved….and gone to a strange place....full of unknowns. The pain in their hearts must have been great…when
they realized that they would need the refuge of one of these cities…and said
goodbye to their families and friends….until the high priest appointed at the
time had died. For most that found it necessary
to go there…it was for life.
God’s purest intentions are that the
punishment always fit the crime…for the rest of this chapter is devoted to how
to deal with false witnesses and those that have intentionally lied or
murdered. He wasn’t merciful to them at
all…for verse 21 says…. “ You must never show pity! Your rule should be life
for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” Intentional murder deserves the full
punishment available…but accidents happen...and should be forgiven…and not
allowed to affect the future of anyone’s life.
Father…I thank you for the reminder of how
I am always to consider the intentions of someone…before I consider my feelings
about what they have done. Help me to
always see the truth of a situation…with your eyes of mercy…so that justice
will always prevail…the way you intended.
Guard my heart against the tricks of Satan…and keep me from feeling
anger. Fill my heart with your compassion
and love…and help me to always seek the truth.
Amen.
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