 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “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. 4 He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. 6 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.’”
7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. 8 And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the wilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation. Meditation The application of God’s word and work must be thoughtful and thorough. God’s grace demands we apply God’s word for personal and social renewal. The last divine speech in Joshua (“The Lord said to Joshua…”-1) concerns the application of His word to Moses regarding justice for murderers. God had revealed His love and order, requiring cities of refuge to allow for due process of law (Numbers 35). Now Joshua identifies the specific cities, direct application of God’s word to Moses so that God’s promised land was ordered for justice. Those who commit murder without intent, or unknowingly (3), shall seek refuge in certain cities and explain their case (5). This due process is evidence of God’s desire to restore and redeem. God Himself demonstrated application of the spirit of this direction when He spared the life of Moses who himself murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-15). Beyond this, the first asylum seeker in Scripture was provided refuge, Cain having not only his life spared after murdering his brother Abel but also receiving God’s stated protection (Genesis 4:13-17). God is serious about due process for discernment and application of justice. The innocent blood of Abel was not avenged by Cain’s execution, but it points to the blood of Jesus who forgives murderers like Paul. Speaking a better word (Hebrews 12:24), the blood of Jesus satisfies justice through the sacrificial death of an innocent man so that God can be just in forgiving all our sin, even murder. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially in regards to the specific application of God’s word to Moses? -Where do you struggle with this level of due process and forgiveness? Be specific. -How does the cross of Christ compel you to reconsider how you look at the justice system socially and your application of grace personally? Be specific. Key Verse 1Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, Comments are closed.
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