“Cities of Refuge”

December 26, 2009

Larry R Evans

Reflective Introduction

Does it strike you as strange, as it does me, that after wandering in the wilderness for forty years the Israelites now need cities of refuge? What’s going on here? In Numbers 32 we are given a history lesson—an important one. Here we are reminded at the outset that it was the Lord who opened the way for their escape from Egypt (vss.3,4). Then the circuitous route through the desert leading to the very edge of the Promised Land is outlined. Such memories surely must have brought some pain as their rebellious ways were uncovered once again. But with the pain also came great anticipation as they looked across the Jordan to their new home. Within a very short time God was going to give His wandering people something they had not experienced since before their captivity in Egypt—their independence. As good as that is, it isn’t doesn’t come without inherent dangers. Just ask Adam, Eve, Cain and Able how they handled their freedom and independence. Yet independence is so important to God that He insists on chancing it again. The lessons of the past must not be forgotten and recounting them is important as the people reach a land of promise and opportunity. However, the Lord isn’t oblivious to the nature of sin. Sinners need a refuge in a sinful world, even when surrounded by God’s own chosen people. A vengeful spirit can suddenly pour out wrath upon the guilty without asking questions and without the kind of listening that seeks understanding. One quality of God’s character emerges in setting up cities of refuge – the principle of fairness regardless of one’s status in society. Cities of refuge provided this. This week’s lesson is all about finding hope when found in a hopeless situation. God has provided a way of escape that true justice might be fairly administered but it doesn’t stop there. Jesus is our Refuge but that is where the “fairness” ceases. Isaiah explains,

4 Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed. (Isa 53:4-5 NIV)

Fairness isn’t God bearing our infirmities yet He willingly pays the price. A penalty is demanded for sin--that is not an option. The option came when deciding how it was to be paid and by whom. Independence comes with a terrible risk. True independence can only be lived through a dependence upon God. That lesson took forty years of wandering in the desert to learn and perhaps it was never fully learned. I wonder if I have really learned that lesson. Have you?

Reflective Quiz

1. The wanderings of the Israelites in the desert had no purpose except to wait for a new generation to appear. [Num. 33:2; Deut. 6:4-12; Jer. 29:11-14] True or False?

2. We learn many principles from the mistakes of the Israelites. One such principle is rather than calling attention to sin we should ignore the sin because it will eventually go away. [Num.33:55] True or False?

3. The Levites were to live apart from the other tribes because of their priestly role. [Num.35:1-8; Eph. 2:19-22] True or False?

4. Having cities of refuge shows that God forgives murderers. [Num. 35:6, 9-12] True or False?

5. By fleeing to a city of refuge, one could avoid trial and be granted asylum as long as they remained in the city. [Num. 35:12] True or False?

6. It took more than one witness to put a murderer to death. [Num. 35:30] True or False?

7. God set up a system of justice in which humans rather than Himself determined the outcome because humans were closer to the situation and therefore could make a more informed judgment call. [Num. 35:22-34] True or False?

8. The safety found in the cities of refuge is similar to the security all of us can find in Jesus. [2 Sam. 22:3; Jn 8:10,11; Heb. 6:18-20] True or False?