READ: Joshua 20-21 / Psalm 131
Verse
chosen for meditation: Joshua 20:9
9 These were the cities
designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among
them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that
he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the
congregation.
REFLECT
After
reaffirming the inheritances of the tribes in Chapter 19, one would think that
God’s next order of business was to focus on government or infrastructure.
Instead, God’s immediate command was to establish cities of refuge, showing his
priority in providing safety and shelter for the lost.
However,
this refuge was not just for any lost. Murderers were denied access and subjected
to punishment by death according to the Mosaic law, but manslayers were welcomed.
God makes a distinction between murder and manslaughter here (unintentional/accidental
killing) and these can be found in Exodus 21:12-14 and Numbers 35:16-28. The
difference lies crucially in whether one has motivations of malice.
God
used these cities to impress upon Israel the sanctity of human life. Killing a
person, even if unintentional, is serious. Hence, blood revenge was allowed and
practiced in ancient times. The “avenger of blood” was a relative of the killed
and took responsibility of vengeance. This vendetta passed down from generation
to generation, leading to many deaths, so there was a necessity for cities of refuge.
This practice showed that our God is one of justice, ensuring justice was
carried out in the land, but also a God of mercy. He provides an avenue of
safety for manslayers, though they still had to stand trial for what they did,
and allowed to be killed by the avengers of blood should they leave the city of
refuge. This value of justice, mercy, and importance placed on each human life was
what distinguished Israel from other lands, who do not hold the same practices.
RELATE
Today,
there are many in the world seeking refuge, for a variety of reasons. Ukraine
and Afghanistan come to mind. Historically, many people who felt unsafe in
their homelands seek sanctuaries in other lands. Important as these sanctuaries
are, they cannot completely meet the needs of the refugees. The rest can only
be found in God. We may not be refugees, but sometimes, we feel like the fugitives
of ancient times, scared, in need of a pardon we don’t deserve and looking for
a hiding place. We can find that in Jesus today.
The
cities of refuge in Joshua 20 form a picture of Jesus. Like the cities of
refuge, Jesus offers access to all, not just Israelites. Verse 9 included
strangers and sojourners. Anyone who seeks Jesus as a refuge need not fear
being turned away. The cities of refuge are also the only place of safety for
the fugitives. No other place to run to. Similarly, Jesus is the only
alternative we have in many problems we face today. It’s just that we often do
not realise that and choose to turn to many other things first, only to find our
way back to Jesus. Some may not even find their way to Jesus. Going to Jesus
does not mean we escape from, forget, or ignore our problems, like many do via their
addictions (shopping, gaming, drugs, alcohol, etc.). Going to Jesus does not
make our problems disappear, but it does gives us the assurance that despite
the problems, God still preserves us and will bring us through the storm, hence
we need not fear.
There
is a major difference though between the cities of refuge and Jesus. The cities
provide refuge only for the innocent (in the case of manslayers, they are
innocent from murder), but Jesus’ refuge goes out to even the guilty. The
vastness of his love reaches even the worst sinners.
REST
Dear Jesus. Thank you for being my hiding place and
preserving me from trouble (Psalm 32:7). It’s nice to know I have a place to go
to when I’m lost, and you make it so accessible. May you be the first one I
seek when I’m troubled. In your name I pray, Amen.
Chris Chong
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