A PLACE OF REFUGE

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

 

A PLACE OF REFUGE

Joshua 20:1-9

Introduction: When a hurricane comes, sensible people will look for a place of safety, away from the storm and its ability to do damage and even bring death. Marilyn and I have fled from three hurricanes when living in Louisiana: Andrew, Katrina, and Gustav. Each time we sought a place of refuge from the possibility of facing the wrath of the storm. We all need a place of refuge to go when there is danger and possible death. Since living in Florida, we have not had to flee; we have ridden them out, and amazingly, we have not lost power. 

Did you ever think that God anticipated things like this? He provided a place of refuge for those who found themselves in a difficult situation beyond their control. The subject of our study is the “City of Refuge” that God instituted to protect the innocent. The protection was for a person who accidentally killed someone, not for a murderer. God made a statement about murder in Genesis 9:6 (KJV) Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. That was the law after the flood. When Israel became a nation, God gave them a system of government under the Law. The “city of refuge” was initiated in Numbers 35:30-34. This takes the law to a new degree in that God made a provision for those who killed another person accidentally. 

We in the United States find ourselves in an interesting situation. Murder has historically been dealt with by what God said in the Bible until 1976.

  1. THE NEED FOR REFUGE. When God wrote the Bible, He knew that man would need a place of refuge. We have been given the idea of a God who sits on a throne and brings wrath upon those who step out of line. God was aware of the need to offer mercy. Exodus 21:12-13 (KJV) 12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. 13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. God is making a difference between murder and accidental killing. Sometimes there are accidents and people are accidentally killed. There are times when there is premeditated murder. That is an intentional killing for what ever reason. In this passage (Exodus 21:13) we are dealing with what our law calls “manslaughter.” In that case men needed a place of refuge to avoid the “manslayer.” God established six cities with three on each side of the river to accommodate those who needed a place to flee so they can clear their name and not face unjust punishment. Note in Joshua 20:5 that God makes provision for one who kills “unwittingly.” Yet if one commits murder with premeditation, they have a problem. They face death because God said that murder would be punished by death according to Exodus 21:12 (KJV) He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. In Numbers 35:16-18 (KJV) 16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 18 Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. Here God deals with motive, premeditation and weapons of deadly force. This is God’s definition of murder with deadly force. Our laws in this land for this very act are also determined by the book you hold in your hand. 
  2. GOD KNEW THERE WAS A NEED FOR MERCY. God demonstrated an amazing system of mercy for acts of violence. Some cultures have very harsh punishment for minor acts of crime. Some even cut off hands for stealing. God in his wisdom gave Israel instructions that would enable them to have a society that would function with mercy and allow life to function without major problems. There is more here though than a moral legal code. 
  1. We all look for a place of refuge. Some find refuge in various places. In this part of the country men find refuge in a camp boat in the spillway basin. Some find refuge in a coffee shop early in the morning. Others find refuge in a hobby that helps them escape from the difficulties of life. We all look for a place of refuge in some way or the other. Some are successful and some are not. God has established a place of refuge in the reach of every person. With Israel God placed the cities of refuge so everyone could reach them in the time they needed to escape. In fact God made provisions of expanding these cities if the land mass of Israel expanded. 
  2. Israel was guilty of murder. What we should remember about Israel is that centuries later the nation would be guilty of the death of the Messiah God had promised them. Listen to Peter in Acts 2:23 (KJV) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain. Israel is guilty of murder. Acts 3:14-15 (KJV) 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. How would you feel if these words were said about you? You are guilty of murder. Even in this God made a provision of reducing the charge to manslaughter. When Jesus was on the cross he made this declaration in Luke 23:34 (KJV) Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. In that statement God reduced the charge to manslaughter saying they did not do it a premeditated manner. God reduced the charges. Look at Acts 3:17 (KJV) And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. God has placed refuge in the reach of everyone. 
  3. There is a debate about who killed Jesus. Was it the Romans? Was it the Jews? Did you know something no one did? Jesus said in John 10:17-18 (KJV) 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. [Emphasis added.] Paul brings this to understanding Romans 3:9-23 (KJV) 9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. 
  4. There was no mercy for those who would not flee to the city of refuge. No one can come to God and say, “Well God look at my Sunday school record. God look at how much money I gave. God look at how much I helped the poor.” We all have an indictment against us, we are all sinners, all are guilty. The good news is that God has made a provision for all of us to have the charges reduced, even forgiven. Listen to the words of a man who supervised the death by stoning of Stephen. Paul had this to say about his sin: 1 Timothy 1:13 (KJV) Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. [Emphasis added.] Ephesians 4:17-18 (KJV) 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart. 
  5. We are all guilty before God, but no matter how bad it may be we did it in ignorance. The man who wrote these words was a murderer but he did it ignorantly in unbelief. God wants to reduce the charges. Listen to Psalms 9:9 (KJV) The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Even in the Old Testament God knew that man would need a refuge. Psalms 62:7-8 (KJV) 7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. Psalms 142:4-5 (KJV) 4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. God wants to be the one to whom you can run. God wants to be the one you can find refuge. Psalms 91:1-4 (KJV) 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. No matter what it may be, God wants to be your refuge. It can be a hurricane, a debilitating disease, an addiction, anything. God wants to be your refuge. 
  1. ANYONE CAN COME TO THE CITY OF REFUGE. You can say, “Well you don’t know what I have done.” It makes no difference what you have done God wants to be your refuge. You may have been raised by parents who you could not trust and never said to you, “I love you” and you wonder how could God love you? You have to come to the realization that God loved you enough to make a provision of forgiveness and refuge. It is in Jesus Christ His Son. He died on the cross, was buried and rose again the third day. God says to you, “Look, I have made a provision for you to reduce the charges to manslaughter.” All you have to do is trust my Son Jesus Christ and He can and will forgive you. Yet God can do nothing for you if you do not take advantage of the refuge He has provided. 

God placed the six cities of refuge for the children of Israel to flee when they had committed a capital offense. But if the guilty party did not flee to the city they found no refuge. They would be put to death by the manslayer. There was no provision for those who refused to go to the place of refuge. Listen to Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. You can say, “Well I don’t believe in that, there are a lot of ways.” Then you need to throw away your Bible. Jesus was either who he said he was or he was an imposter. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me” (John 14:6). That may not sound politically correct but they are the words of Jesus Christ. There is no other way. In the days of Joshua a person had to go personally. They could not send their brother or their brother-in-law. They had to go personally. It involved leaving home and family and staying in a place away from the family. Sometimes when we place our trust in Christ it means our family will be estranged from us. They will not understand our decision and will not have anything to do with us. Also, they had to go immediately, they could not linger until the football game was over or the hunting season was ended. They had to go quickly. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) [Emphasis added.]

  1. GOD MADE ACCESS TO THE REFUGE EASY. It is important to know that these cities were all very accessible. They were all on hills and could be seen from a distance. Look at Numbers 35:15 (KJV) These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. Anyone could flee to this city and find refuge. It was not just for the Jew but the stranger as well. It was for anyone just traveling through the land as well. ANYONE could find refuge. It made no difference where you came from or who you are you can come to the city of refuge. 1 John 2:1 (KJV) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Psalms 27:13 (KJV) I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Deuteronomy 19:3 (KJV) Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. This indicates that the roads were to be built so there was easy access to the city of refuge. God did not want there to be any hindrance to the city of refuge. 

  1. GOD MADE PROVISIONS FOR THE CHARGES TO BE REDUCED. What was it that enabled the charges to be reduced, ignorance? You are no longer ignorant. You now know the way and you will be held responsible for your sin. If you do not flee to the refuge provided you are responsible for your actions. If you do not