God's mercy:a sanctuary - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Joshua 20:1-3,

"Then the Lord said to Joshua: 'Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.'"

These six cities of refuge, required by God of the Israelites, were chosen from among the 48 cities given the Levites. Three on the west side of the Jordan, and three on the east, provided centrally from north to south to provide accessibility. Those who had killed someone unintentionally were to flee to one of these cities for refuge as their case was adjudicated by the elders within those cities. The need for refuge was from a next of kin that was rightfully identified as the "avenger of blood" for the death of a family member.

These cities of refuge not only provided sanctuary for someone who had killed another accidentally, but also helped to mitigate the potential for a sincere next of kin, with the responsibility to avenge the death of a family member, from taking the life of someone who never had any intention of harm.

Contemplating these cities of refuge brings to my mind several thoughts. One is that in this lost and fallen world, a world estranged and removed from its Creator, things have a way of happening. The notion that God is going to insert himself into every event and manipulate a just outcome within the context of this life is unfounded. Judgment is coming after the end of this age and at that time all things will have to be accounted for. However, for now in this age, where God may choose to insinuate himself in some or even many events in this life, he has never committed himself to do so in all events. Thus, he has made provision for a variety of things for his people in this life. One, certainly, was the establishment of these cities of refuge. They provided for a need his people would have.

Another thought is the recognition that the life of every individual is important to God. Moses was given the law that demanded the protection of innocent life and the justice to be exercised when innocent life was taken. It is within the concept of accounting for the taking of innocent life these cities of refuge were established. It would be wrongful to punish someone who accidentally and without malice caused the death of another.

In a limited way, the cities of refuge bring to my mind the mercy of God. God provides for those who cast themselves at the feet of his mercy. I say in a limited way because I sense to see a metaphor in the cities of refuge to God's plan of redemption falls apart on the recognition that we are all guilty of sin, none of us are innocent, and these cities of refuge were established for the safety of one who never intended harm. Nevertheless, the provision of God in these cities of refuge do speak to the mercy and love of God's wonderful provision.

Over and again, God tells us he is merciful, and just as he provided sanctuary in these cities of refuge, he provides us sanctuary in something far greater he has provided, a sanctuary for all of us in the payment Jesus Christ made for all of our sins... each and every one of us. He only asks us to trust in him.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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Trevor Fisk

trevor.fisk@gmail.com