These six cities shall be a refuge for the sons of Israel, for the stranger, and for the foreign resident among them; so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there. Numbers 35:15 NASB
Imagine for a moment that you live in a country without a police force or a court system. How is justice administered?
This was the case in ancient Israel. In God’s economy, elders of cities and towns decided personal injury and property cases at their city gates. However, in the case of murder, the next of kin was allowed to avenge the blood of their dearly departed.
Now imagine you had accidentally caused the death of your neighbor and his brother wants you dead. Where do you go for protection? There are no police or lawyers to run to. This was the purpose of the cities of refuge.
God directed that six cities of refuge be identified in the Promised Land. He also instructed that the roads to those cities be well maintained and clearly marked so that you, the accused, could seek asylum there. The rulers of that city would protect you until they could hear your defense. If they found you guilty of murder, they would hand you over to the avenger of blood. If they believed you did not intend to kill your neighbor, then you could life in the city of refuge under their protection. You were to stay in that city until the death of the high priest.
There was no other alternative for the accused. Your choices were to live in the city of refuge or die.
The Good News is that Jesus Christ is our city of refuge. We are all pursued by an avenger who is seeking to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8). We must run to our city of refuge, Jesus, who will protect us from the pursuer. Actually, we all deserve death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 6:23). Jesus is our merciful and faithful high priest whose death provides our freedom (Heb. 2:17). There is no other alternative; Jesus Christ is the only way (John 14:6).
The Good News gets even better. The cities of refuge could only help the innocent. Jesus, however, saves all who come to Him. He has paid the price for our rebellion. He came into the world to save sinners (1 Tim. 1:15). All are safe who run to Jesus, our City of Refuge. Those who remain in Him, remain under His protection. I am praising God for Jesus, our City of Refuge!