Joshua 20:1-3 and 9 - The LORD said to Joshua, "Now tell the Israelites
to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. Anyone who kills another
person unintentionally can run to one of these cities and be protected from the
relatives of the one who was killed, for the relatives may seek to avenge the
killing. …..
These cities were set apart for Israelites as well as the
foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person
could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being
killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the community.
This was important...because Joshua took the time to record that
God had spoken these words directly to him.
God told him to set up 6 cities…scattered equal distances from the
entire Promised land…. so anyone who accidently killed someone would be able to
run from those who sought unjustified revenge.
There would be 3 on each side of the River…so that no one would have
more than a half day’s journey to get to one.
The management and care of the cities and the people who had to flee was
designated to the tribe of Levite
One commentator allowed us to even ponder the Hebrew meanings of
the 6 city names. The three cities west of the Jordan were Kedesh …meaning holy
…Shechem ..meaning shoulder… and Kiriath-arba….which
was Hebron…meaning fellowship. The three cities east of the river were Bezer… meaning
fortification…Ramoth…meaning high and exalted…and Golan…meaning joy. Great names for places where God would protect
and guard you in this time that had to be emotionally draining on those who had
to use them.
The setting up of these cities helped God teach us that justice
is not always an easy thing to decide. Our human emotions…especially in the
loss of someone we love…cloud justice…and allow Satan to promote feelings of
hate and bitterness...that increase our want to avenge the loss. There really
are two kinds of emotions here…the hate and pain of the family who lost a loved
one…and the pain and guilt felt by the one who caused the loss. If you accidently caused the death of someone
with a wreck…or the deer you thought you just shot was actually a person…some
of the family and friends of the one who died would simply not accept your
accident plea. These cities provided a cool down spot…where God could protect
the life of the accused and provide a place for them to heal from what pain
they had caused…while he decided what judgment was needed.
I have that verse….Revenge is mine, says the Lord …from
Leviticus 19:18 ringing in my ears and heart.
And Romans 12:21 says…. “Do not be overcome with evil, but
overcome evil with good.” God wants all
of us to model his love and mercy and leave the judgment and punishment up to him.
I for one am so very thankful that we don’t need physical cities of refuge
anymore…because God sent his courageous and loving son who was obedient even to
death on the cross. His love provided
the ultimate refuge for all wrongs…and if we but allow ourselves to be washed
in his cleansing blood…we can experience the love and forgiveness that offers
us protection from every sin we have ever committed.
Father… I thank you for the reminder that I have no right to
judge the guilt or innocence of others around me. Help me to always remember that revenge is
not ever my human right…but that revenge is only for God. Help me to give him
complete control over the world and the things he allows to teach us more about
his love. Grant me peace and wisdom….in every situation that Satan tries to
implant bitterness and hate. Place so much love and compassion in my heart that
bitterness and hate have no place to grow.
Show me how to release the feelings of injustice to you…so you can help
me understand ...and accept…and allow you be in control. Amen.
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