City of Refuge

If this doesn’t bless you, I don’t know what will. . . . !

Numbers 35:6, 11-15, 25-28, 32
[6] And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge, which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add forty and two cities.
[11] Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.
[12] And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
[13] And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
[14] Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
[15] These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.
[25] And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.
[26] But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled;
[27] And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood:
[28] Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.
[32] And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

Isn’t this a beautiful portion of Scripture? One might think: “But they’re guilty.... they deserve to be punished…. So what’s up with this “refuge” thing.... it’s like a free “out” from facing the music.”
I have three words for you: We’re. All. Guilty.

We all know what the 10 Commandments are: Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not covet, thou shalt not bear false witness, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, etc and etc.
But the Bible also says that if you “hate” someone, you’ve committed murder in your heart. If you lust after someone and think sexual or perverted thoughts about someone, you’ve committed adultery (or fornication, if you’re not married).
I am so glad that I have a “City of Refuge” I can run to: the cross.

The other beautiful part of this story is (as the Bible says in verses 28 and 32): “And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.” Meaning, the guilty one is safe from judgment until the death of the high priest. A High Priest was the one who would make the sacrifices to appease the wrath of God towards sin until finally…. One day…. Jesus was born of a virgin... lived a perfect life (fully man, yet fully God – Romans 1:20, Colossians 1:9)... fulfilled all the prophecies... died on the cross for your sins and mine becoming that perfect sacrifice that would forever settle the sin-debt if we by faith accept His as our Savior... and victoriously arose from the dead 3 days later conquering death and the grave! Jesus is my Great High Priest, and He’s ever interceding for us on the right hand of the Father! Oh, and by the way, my High Priest will never die... I'm safe forever!

The Bible says:
Romans 8:34
"Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."
I Timothy 2:5
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

One day I ran to the City of Refuge—
Though guilty I was,
I found shelter in the blood He shed for me!
I was condemned, but God – He showed mercy!
And on Calvary God built City of Refuge for me!

Thank you, Jesus!


More Bible verses about the “refuge”:
Deuteronomy 33:27
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them."

II Samuel 22:3
"The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence."

Psalm 9:9
"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."

Psalm 46:1, 7
[1] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
[7] The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Psalm 62:7, 8
[7] In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
[8] Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Psalm 57:1
"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."

Psalm 91:2, 9
[2] I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
[9] Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

Psalm 94:22
"But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge."

Hebrews 6:18
"That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:"