City of Refuge

Joshua 20

We often look at God and following Christ like it's a game: there are certain rules we have to follow, and if we mess up, then too bad for us. In this perception, God is almost like a computer or robot, dealing out punishment without any understanding except for what the rules say.

In the rule given to the Israelites, families who lost someone due to someone else killing them could rightfully take vengeance and kill the murderer. But what about those who accidentally killed someone else? Wouldn't it be far too harsh for someone to be killed in revenge if they didn't do anything intentionally?

In this chapter we see God providing a way out for those who committed manslaughter while still maintaining justice. He had the Israelites build "cities of refuge", places where those who had killed people accidentally could run to and be given safe haven after explaining their case to the city elders. This didn't mean that these people got off scot-free. They had to remain in these cities until a certain period of time, almost like going to prison. Payment still needed to be made for the life that was lost. But they would still get to keep their lives, and eventually they would be permitted to return home.

It's easy for me to lose hope and think about all the ways that I'm not living up to what God is calling me to do. But the God who creates cities of refuge is a God who understands how imperfect we are, and yet still uses us to accomplish his mission to redeem the world. He is both loving and just. He works both to help the one who has made the mistake, as well as the one who is hurt by the mistake. He is the Leader and Author, not me.

This renews my confidence in the Holy Spirit. I can lean on him, even when I have no clue what my plan should be. I know that if I trust in him and obey him, he will cover over all of my shortcomings.