Reading: Joshua 16-20
Verse of the day: "These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for the resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be exected by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assemblies." (v. 20:9)
Questions
What is a city of refuge?
Verse of the day: "These were the cities of refuge appointed for all the Israelites and for the resident foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed someone could escape there and not be exected by the avenger of blood, at least until his case was reviewed by the assemblies." (v. 20:9)
Questions
What is a city of refuge?
- The cities of refuge were safe sanctuaries people who had committed accidental murder can seek protection from the avenger of blood. There are 6 appointed cities of refuge: Kedesh, Golan, Ramoth-Gilead, Bezer, Hebron and Shechem. Based on their geographical allocations, these places were evenly spread out across the nation of Israel and is about equidistant - with the exception of Kedesh, Golan and Ramoth-Gilead, which are closer to one another. The map indicates that these three areas were situated in more fertile areas close to the Sea of Galilee, a flourishing location for hunting & gathering resources, and for industry and trade, and it is likely that these region would be more crowded than the others. This demonstrates God's wisdom in distributing His portions to His people. He has a good plan and purpose both when He is giving and when He is withholding, and we can trust His care.
- These 6 cities were part of the 48 cities given to the Levites (Numbers 35:6-7) as their pasturelands, as they do not have territories of their own (Joshua 13:33). How appropriate it is for the place of refuge to be established in the dwelling place of the tribe that has been especially consecrated to the Lord and dedicated to oversee His worship. Those who are called in the ministry of the Lord are expected to exercise a higher capacity of justice and mercy, as they take in the fugitives into their dwelling place and minister to them.
- The avenger of blood is someone who bears the legal responsibility to avenge a person who had been murdered. They are usually the closest male relative of the victim and they execute justice by killing the murderer. This is because, in those days, justice operated from the principle of retribution (i.e. an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth), and God calls for the blood of the one who kills another person (Genesis 9:5-6).
- This law highlights the supreme value and worth of the human life, which bears the image of God. While a dead animal can be replaced by another, no amount of treasure can make up for the value of the life stolen, and the only way the killer can recompense the loss is by giving us his own. This principle stands in the face of the pragmatist mindset, and demonstrates that value of our God-given lives are far more important than the gifts, skills, and other outward contributions we can offer. The murderer cannot pay for his crime with his work or service.
- God provides these cities of refuge for all of Israelites and the foreigners dwelling among them. Anyone who has come to the God of Israel will be counted among His people, and He will show no partiality based on their origins or their pasts. "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28) In the eyes of God, we are all sojourners, living in the land borrowed from Him; we do not own anything in this world and no one has more "rights" than the next person. We must not envy or be angry when God decides to share His good gifts to another, even if that comes at our expense.
- The offer of this refuge was granted only to those who had committed accidental murder than a premediated murder. While perhaps, for the victims' families, it makes no difference whether or not the victim's death was caused deliberately, and would try to seek vengeance regardless, the Lord weighs the heart and metes out his justice accordingly (Jeremiah 17:10). A person who made a mistake is not held to the same degree of accountabilty as someone who committed a crime out of malice, and this can serve as a lesson for us to look beyond our grief and pain and seek to understand even those who had wronged us.
- On the other hand, this law by no means nullify the consequences of the fugitive's crime, as they are to be given a trial by "the assembly", who would review their case and deliver judgment. We sometimes think that if we have a good enough excuse/justification for our wrongdoing, we should be exempted from its consequences. In the place where justice and mercy meets, God has provided all that is required for sin to be properly addressed, and we must be humble enough to admit our wrongdoing and seek a hiding place that will protect us from undue vengeance.
- Have we treated our brothers and sisters in Christ with impartiality, or do we believe ourselves to have more rights than others?
- When someone has hurt us, what is our attitude towards them? Are we willing them to give them a chance to find God's mercy and forgiveness?
