DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- CITY OF REFUGE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – CITY OF REFUGE

"The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, saying: "Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there, and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood" ' " (Joshua 20:1-3)

On the barren lava fields of Kona on the big Island, Hawaii, lies the historic City of Refuge. My wife and visited this city of refuge on a vacation there. I was struck by this city of refuge because I remembered the cities of refuge in the Old Testament. Here for more than 700 years, ancient Hawaiians found sanctuary after violating the sacred laws of the kapu or religious laws, which were punishable by death.  Upon reaching the city of refuge, the priest would then perform the ceremony of absolution, which eventually allowed the lawbreaker to return to Honaunau.

God had told Moses to establish cities of refuge where a person who accidentally killed someone could find sanctuary. The original ordinance was given in Numbers 35 beginning at verse 9: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, "When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall appoint cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person accidentally may flee there. They shall be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation in judgment." ' " Now, Joshua would fulfill that plan.

These were appointed as places of safety for someone accused of murder until a proper trial was held to establish the person's innocence because it was an unintentional accident. This was to prevent a revenge murder. As long as the accused stayed in the city of refuge, he was safe.

We don't have sanctuary cities, but we do have a refuge. The writer to the Hebrews wrote that "we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul" (Hebrews 6:18b-19a). We who have fled to Jesus as our refuge have strong consolation – comfort and solace – that He will keep us safe in His hand. This is an anchor for the soul. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2). "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27). When our enemy accuses us, we can find rest and consolation in our city of refuge, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love, Dad