City of Refuge

Pray

A friend of mine who was quite a lover of the hunt told me the following story.

Rising early one morning, he said, "I heard the barking of a number of dogs chasing a deer. Looking at a large open field in front of me, I saw a young fawn making its way across the field and giving signs that its race was almost run. It leaped over the rails of the enclosed place and crouched within ten feet of where I stood. A moment later two of the hounds came over, and the fawn ran in my direction and pushed its head between my legs. I lifted the little thing to my breast, and, swinging round and round, fought off the dogs. Just then I felt that all the dogs in the West could not and would not capture that fawn after its weakness had appealed to my strength…

You see, this morning as a I share this story with you perhaps your heart strings are slightly pulled. I realize for some of us this morning that when we imagine a deer running through the forest, we picture Bambi, perhaps running down to a calm brook to grab a cool drink before prancing away further into the woods.

Still for others of us this morning, when I say the word deer. I may as well say squirrel, squirrel (look around)… You see, Your first thought is of the massive 12-point buck, also going down for a cool drink in the brook. Only this time, you’re at the other end of your rifle waiting to make the kill.

But I think all of us, hunter or not, can appreciate this story of this cute fawn running through the field defenseless. Even for the hunter, there is a sense of empathy. A sense of commitment, and passion, a sense of courage perhaps to come to the fawn’s defense.

You see, stories like this resonate within our hearts. We see the innocent deer, and there’s a sense of willingness to come to their rescue. but here’s my question, is our commitment to help, conditioned on the age of the deer. Here’s another question, Is our condition to help others conditioned based on who they are?

Are we willing to help the innocent child, but not the homeless man? Are we willing to associate with the sweet lady, but not the drunkard, not the druggy, not the man who has deserted his family for greener pastures somewhere else?

Tough questions I know… but the point isn’t to shame you based on your response. Although, this is perhaps something to chew on a bit. But really, my encouragement is this, that each of us… in our own way, is that person who is less deserving.

You see, all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Each of us, in our own regard, have fallen short. And yet, Christ meets us! I’m reminded of our refuge this morning; I’m reminded of our shelter that we can run to.

You see, you may be here this morning and dealing with a sin or a struggle. You may be here this morning and dealing with a shame or a regret. You may be here this morning with emotions that you’re trying to sift through and make sense of… we all deal with different things. But church, in the midst of this stands the creator, who loves you so much and is concerned for you this morning.

In the midst of this stands Christ, who is our 1. Refuge. 2. Redeemer and 3. Restorer. If you have your bibles turn with me to Joshua 20 as we see that:

1. Christ is our Refuge

As you turn to Joshua 20 this morning, this will be our last message in the book of Joshua. We recall from last week, that God took Joshua in chapter 13 and had him start to divide the land of Israel up. And so, one tribe at a time, Israel is given their lands. And this continues 19. But then we get to this point in Joshua 20, where God shifts his attention to this city of refuge. And this city is for fugitives who are being accused of murdering someone. Now these people aren’t necessarily guilty of murder, it may have been an accidental killing.

And so, God provided these cities as safe havens for fleeing fugitives to run to and plead their case.

Joshua 20: 1-6 20 Then the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, 3 so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. 4 When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. 5 If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. 6 They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”

So just so were clear, to murder someone was wrong, and it was to be punished by the guilty party being put to death. But we also see this a double-sided coin, You see, God also makes a way for the refuge, for the fugitive, who accidentally killed someone, that they would have a safe haven or refuge to run to.

And so, God’s word concerning the cities of refuge shows, on the one hand, God’s mercy, in that those who killed accidentally could find a place of refuge. And yet, on the other hand, it also affirms the sanctity of human life, in that even an accidental death caused blood guilt that could be avenged if the killer did not go to a city of refuge.

You see God had a plan in place. For his people, because, ultimately, he knew his people would sin. In other words, there would be a need for these cities of refuge, as certainly there would be crimes that were committed, and sometimes we don’t know what’s on the other end of someone’s story. To us, there just a face that we pass by any given day… to us, if we’re not careful we can quickly overlook them because, they don’t fit in, they don’t look right, they smell, they don’t have a good job… and yet… these people matter.

I’m reminded of a Bus driver named Natalie Barnes who started talking with a passenger named Richard, who told her he had been homeless for a week, since the place where he had been living was condemned. When he asked if he could ride along for the night to stay out of the cold, she agreed. Barnes said in a blog post, “At some point in our lives, everybody needs help. I wanted to do what I could to help Richard in some way.”

At one point during her shift, she took a break and offered to get her passenger a bite to eat. Richard was touched by the gesture. He said, “Now I don’t know what to say but to say thank you,” and promised to pay her back somehow. She refused, saying, “I want to help you.” But one act of kindness wasn’t enough for Barnes. During another break, she reached out to a friend, who helped get Richard into a temporary shelter.

Barnes and Richard became friends during that six-hour bus ride. Now he has her cellphone number, and they keep in touch. She said, “We talk every couple of days and he thanks me every time he talks to me for helping him. He calls me his little guardian angel. I’m happy to say that he’s progressing well.”

You see, we don’t see the stories behind why someone would be fleeing. To us, these are criminals, to us, the tendency is to read quickly over this chapter perhaps and not give these people a name, or a face. But to God… he knew them when they were in their mother’s womb, he knew them when they were first born, he saw them, and he was cheering them on as they were taking their first step… and then started to grow, and walk through life, and get older and mature. And yet somewhere along the way, something happened where their outward character didn’t exactly reflect Christ. Whether it was by accident or by intent, is not the point… the point is, is in a moment of a lapse of judgement, they didn’t do the right thing.

And again, we simply see that there is a city of refuge here… we don’t know all the details of what’s taken place. But somehow, whether by intent or by accident this person kills someone else.

This same person that God had created all those years ago… this day, this morning, this evening… they’re in an all-time low point. Especially for those who would accidentally kill someone, they didn’t start there day thinking this would happen. They didn’t begin there day knowing manslaughter would be on their to do list that day… and yet, somewhere in the course of that day, someone dies at their hands.

And in a moment, life as they knew it changed. All of a sudden, this avenger of blood, this kinsman redeemer would be after them. All of a sudden, there city or their town would label them an outcast. All of a sudden, their family that they had known, that they had grown up with all those years… they reject them… perhaps this man or woman who is guilty of the killing kisses their loved ones one last time, and then, they travel as fast as they can, escaping the avenger of blood. Hoping they might possibly just be able to get to the city gates so that they can make their case heard. And when they arrive, they find the gates are open to them.

Church, I don’t know where you are this morning. Some of you are a long way from home. Others of you have had times in your life where you feel like you’re all alone. But I’m encouraged this morning, that Almighty GOD is your refuge.

Romans 8: 35-39 tells us: “35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You see church, I don’t know where you are this morning. But I do know that God lead me to preach this word today. And whether you’re here this morning, or have been there in the past, there is nothing, nothing at all that will separate you from the love of the Father this morning.

He is your, rock, he is your refuge, he is your redeemer and your friend. Church, would you run to Him this morning.

2. Christ is our Redeemer

4 When they flee to one of these cities, they are to stand in the entrance of the city gate and state their case before the elders of that city. Then the elders are to admit the fugitive into their city and provide a place to live among them. 5 If the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, the elders must not surrender the fugitive, because the fugitive killed their neighbor unintentionally and without malice aforethought. 6 They are to stay in that city until they have stood trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest who is serving at that time. Then they may go back to their own home in the town from which they fled.”

So as we look at the scripture together this morning, we see that someone who kills someone else would flee to one of these cities, there they would state their case to the elders, and their elders bring them in, provide a place to for them, and go to their defense if the avenger of blood comes in pursuit, they are not to surrender the fugitive but rather, they defend the fugitive who committed the crime unintentionally.

Now, we understand from the 10 commandments in exodus 20:13 “You shall not murder,” and this refers to illegal and inappropriate killing. And it’s not to say that killing was right. No in today’s society, it would still be closely related with manslaughter as opposed to murder. But the idea was that the guilty party was to be spared death at the hands of an “avenger of blood.”

You see at the time, the “avenger of blood” or gōʾēl haddām

gōʾēl “close relative” or “kinsmen redeemer.” Who had an obligation to the family whether they were recovering people or property that had been lost, or they were paying a fee, or they were bringing punishment for killing someone. And by the way if the term kinsmen redeemer sounds familiar, we see in Ruth, that Boaz was in fact the family’s kinsman redeemer, and responsible for taking care of the family and Naomi’s husband died?

But here’s what I want us to see, the avenger the blood had an obligation before the family to redeem the necessary loss of a loved one. They were simply doing their job. They weren’t taking private vengeance: Since vengeance belongs to God.

For as numbers 35:25-28 points out: 25 The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

26 “‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled 27 and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. 28 The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.

But here was the key, we see in Joshua 20 vs 6 and here in numbers 35:28 this key idea. 28 The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. You see here was the point, the death of the High priest would be seen as an atoning sacrifice for the family.

And in this legal obligation. The avenger of blood had to be satisfied by either the death of the guilty party or the death of the high priest in order to be satisfied. And so, when the high priest died. This satisfied the redeemer of bloods demand, as the high priest took place of the guilty party.

Church. I’m grateful this morning that we have a great high priest who has taken our place.

You see when we look at the idea of Christ our redeemer. We see that to redeem by definition is to repurchase, to win back, to release or clear from blame or debt, to free from distress or harm.

You see this morning, God, had to be satisfied for the sin of this world. This was the requirement. So therefore, rather than allowing us to spend eternity in hell… God, because of His love for us, would send his only son, Jesus to redeem us, so that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have everlasting life.

You see in Christ, the legal requirements of the avenger of blood would be satisfied.

Hebrews 9:11-12 tells us 11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

How then should we respond this morning?

3. Christ is our Restorer

As we consider our last point this morning, we see that Christ not only is our refuge, and our redeemer, but he also wants to restore us.

Look with me at Joshua 20:7-9

7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh. 9 Any of the Israelites or any foreigner residing among them who killed someone accidentally could flee to these designated cities and not be killed by the avenger of blood prior to standing trial before the assembly.

We see here that God has apportioned 6 cities for the fugitives to run to. And there are 3 cities on the east of the Jordan and 3 cities on the west. But here’s what I want us to see. These 6 cities are not by accident or random, no, instead, God has chosen these 6 cities specifically.

Yes, you see they were spread out over the land of Canaan, so they were organized that way. But the main idea is who was there. You see, we don’t see this in Joshua 21, but in between the pursuers in who are made up of the 11 tribes of Israel, God then places the city of refuge, with a distinct people right next to them, that was the Levites.

You say, who were the Levites, well all of the duties of the priest were carried out by the Levites. And unlike the other 11 other tribes of Israel who were given a specific land to be their home. The Levites inheritance scripture tells us was the Lord Himself. You see, God would take care of these priests through the offerings that were made at the altar. The priests and their families would be taken care of. And so, while they weren’t given a large portion of Land… God strategically spread them out throughout all the other areas of land to provide for the spiritual needs of the Israelites.

And the fugitives were no exception. You see, God gave the Levites 48 cities throughout Canaan which they would live among the other Israelites…

11 They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) 21 In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder)…

27 The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given: from the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder)…

32 from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder)…

36 from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, Jahaz

38 from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder)…

You see here’s the point, God wasn’t only providing a refuge, or a redeemer through the death of the high priest, he was also looking for a relationship. You see, at the time, the priest would serve as a mediator between the people and God. The priest would Go to God on the people’s behalf to atone for their sin… And so, God, strategically set it up so that the very cities of refuge, would be where God would meet them.

You see I’m reminded of my own kids this morning. They’re not perfect, if you’ve ever served in Sunday school, you know that firsthand… but you know what, they’re still my children. And I don’t care what they do, they will never stop being my children. It doesn’t mean I’m always pleased with every decision they make; it doesn’t mean everything they do makes me happy all the time… but they’re always my children.

I’m going to call Tom up at this time as we prepare to close out…

Church, this morning, your Father loves you. And it doesn’t matter what you’ve done, it doesn’t matter where you are this morning, he loves you in spite of your sin.

You see church, this morning, Jesus is the high priest… and as then, he desires a relationship with you. You see, God knew that the people would fall short… He knew that there would be people not only in these cities of refuge, but also all throughout the Canaan that would need the priest. And he made a way for the priest to intervene. This morning Church, we have that same privilege. God wants a relationship with you.

You see for the people of the time, they had to run to the city of refuge when they were guilty of bloodshed. Church, What are you running to this morning?

Pray