The Refuge of the Lord

Joshua 20 is the fulfillment of Moses' command from the Lord for the Israelites to establish cities of refuge for anyone who may have killed someone by accident. The Law required there to be an avenger of blood from the family of a murdered person when the murder was pre-meditated. However, in cases where the murder happened accidentally, there was to be a merciful option for the guilty party.

Joshua 20:2-3 (ESV) “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:6 (ESV) And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’ ”

In an ancient world, this concept was groundbreaking. Retribution in ancient times was in the hands of the injured party and usually enacted without concern for the image of God upon each man nor a punishment deserving of the crime. Israel's laws are the root of many judicial protections afforded the West today. Even in our context, a man is considered innocent until PROVEN guilty and then the manner of guilt is assessed in each respective case. Laws we take for granted are rooted in the Judeo-Christian Biblical worldview the West is busy trying to erase as we speak. 

But of course, there is more than just legal precedent for future cultures in these words of Joshua 20. For instance, we see that the manslayer is to flee because he killed "without intent or unknowingly." That is, he is guilty, but he may not even know it, or knowing it, he did not intentionally commit the crime. This is a picture of the human race before a holy God. For every one of us has unintentionally put someone to death even if we aren't aware of it. His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus was put to death for the sins of the world. We are guilty of murder even though we may not know it. On the cross Jesus spoke of our ignorance: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." 

How incredible to think that salvation is to come into the refuge of God for the sins we have committed even before we knew what we were doing. But there is still more. These cities were "set apart" (Joshua 20:7). That means they were cities established with names before being designated places of refuge. Their names are symbolic of our inheritance through the blood of Christ:

First, "Kadesh" means "consecrated; sanctified, set apart for a purpose." That is our call in Christ. We are set apart unto God's purposes through the blood sacrifice of Jesus. This is what holiness is. It is not moral character. It is ultimately designation to purpose.

Second, "Shechem" which means, "back or shoulder". It is on the shoulders of our Great Shepherd we come into the flock of God. Remember Jesus' words about the Shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep? “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing." Luke 15:4–5 (ESV).

Third, "Hebron" means "joining together; union; company". That refers to our family in Christ. We are brought into the family of God through the blood. Peter says it well: "Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:10 (ESV).

Fourth, "Bezer" means "fortress." That is what the Name of the Lord is for us. Psalm 18:2 (ESV) "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."

Fifth, "Ramoth" means, "Heights, referring to a lofty place." In Christ, we are given an citizenship in HEAVEN, high above the kingdoms of this world. 

Finally, "Golan" which means, "rejoicing." We are full of the joy of the Lord because our refuge has come through the blood of He who was slain for us. 

The final thought of this passage is how close these cities were to everyone in Israel. If you see a map of them they are well distributed throughout the land so that no guilty party has to travel far to find refuge. Can you see the illustration of Christ? He is not far off for any of us. He is close at hand. We need only open our hearts and call His Name.