Cities Of Refuge

I believe in every age God provides cities of refuge because there are always going to be runners who need a place to run to.

"The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities." - Numbers 35:6 ESV

"The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment." - Numbers 35:12 ESV

"And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled, and the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood. For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession." - Numbers 35:25-28 ESV

I believe in this age these are places that name the name of Christ. Those places should be places where you are safe from your past. The runner running from guilt and shame should be able to rest there.

I'm not talking about freedom from the penalty of crimes. Murder is still murder. Stolen money or property still need to be repaid and have penalties above and beyond.

Jesus Himself is the true city of refuge. His blood blots out all our sin and He Is available day and night.

--