Numbers 35:12
‘The cities shall be to you as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands before the congregation for trial.”
Israel was just beginning a new stage. They had no courts. This was how they dealt with accidental death. The individual would go there and be safe. If he didn’t then the avenger, the first born brother would enact revenge. If he was guilty of murder, then there was no refuge.
The cities of refuge were also a model of Christ. We all commit sin and are in need of forgiveness. We flee to Jesus and are safe in HIm.
There is some inconvenience. The person leaves his home and city and moves. When we come to Christ, there are some changes. Some of our habits or attitudes aren’t biblical. We need to make some changes. Jesus made some references to this In Matthew 10:37, He said that we need to love Him more than our parents. In verse 29 of Mark 10, He speaks of leaving farms or suffering persecution.
These seem like very dramatic changes. Depending on one’s lifestyle that may be. Others may change very little. That is the beatiful aspect of Jesus. We don’t have to look for any pleasure and weed it out. God created those things. Our lives do need to be biblical. But it’s a personal relationship we have. He will nudge us individually.
Yes, there can be inconvenience, but God will never be indebted to us. He will outgive us every time. Verse 30 from Mark 10 says that whatever we give up, we will be rewarded for a hundred times. God is not winning in the fairness of this. He’s ok with lavishing us with joy and blessing.
Thank You, Lord, that You are our refuge. Help us never to forget that.