Daily Devotions
The Cities of Refuge
Title: The Cities of Refuge
Reading for February 20: Numbers 33-36
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person may flee there."
Numbers 35:9-11
There are several parallels that can be made between the cities of refuge and our refuge in Christ Jesus:
1. They were accessible. The cities were spread out geographically and strategically placed so that wherever you were in Israel you could reach a city of refuge in a day's journey (Deut 19:1-3). The cities were for the people of Israel and for the sojourner as well (Num 35:15). Similarly, the refuge of Christ is accessible for all who seek it (Jn 3:16).
2. You had to flee to these cities (Num 35:11). Jesus will not compel anyone to receive refuge in Him. He lovingly calls us to come, but we must freely go to Him (Mt 11:28).
3. They were to save one from death (Num 35:12). Jesus came to save us from spiritual death (Rom 6:23).
Though there are similarities, there is one glaring difference between these cities of refuge and Christ, and that is that these cities were for the manslayer, not the murderer. The murderer would be turned over to the "avenger of blood" and be put to death (Num 35:20-21).
On the other hand, Christ Jesus offers refuge for even murderers who come in penitent faith (Acts 2:23, 38; 3:15, 19).
Father, thank you for the refuge we have in Jesus Christ!
