What are Cities of Refuge?

Deu 19:5  As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live.

                                                                                                                                               

Moses here gave instructions concerning cities of refuge. What are Cities of Refuge? The Cities of Refuge were part of the distribution of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe of Levi was not given land to develop. Instead, the Levites were allocated cities throughout the land. Forty-eight cities were allotted to them spread throughout the land and of these, six were designated as Cities of Refuge (Numbers 35:6-7).

Why were they called Cities of Refuge? The Mosaic Law stated that anyone who committed a murder was to be put to death (Exodus 21:14). But for unintentional deaths, God set aside these cities to which the manslayer could flee for refuge until his case could go to trial (Numbers 35:12). This was to safeguard the unintentional manslayer’s life against an avenger who would be out to avenge the death of a loved one (Deuteronomy 19:6). The congregation would judge to find if the attacker acted unintentionally. This privilege was "not intended to patronize wickedness, but to give a place of shelter for the innocent, or, in doubtful cases, to give men protection till they could have a hearing. If he was found guilty of premediated murder, he would be deliver to the avenger that he might die (Deuteronomy 19:12).

In Christ, our Saviour, God has provided a secure and accessible refuge for the sinner. The writer of Hebrews wrote: “That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:18).

We “who have fled for refuge” is a New Testament allusion to the Old Testament cities of refuge. How do we run to Him? He tells us we come by “laying hold of the hope set before us”. What is that hope? It is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The only way to have a strong confidence and a steadfast hope, is to seek refuge in God and embrace Jesus Christ, who is our only hope of salvation. The scripture says that this hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls. In fact, this hope reaches behind the curtain (referring to the curtain veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies) and into the most Holy Place, which is heaven: “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain” (Hebrews 6:18).

Just as the guilty person sought refuge in the cities set up for that purpose, we flee to Christ for refuge from sin: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). All men have sinned (Romans 3:23). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Death is the avenger that is after the souls of every man. But thanks be to God, for He has provided a refuge for us in Jesus Christ. We run to Christ to escape an eternity in hell. Just as the Cities of Refuge were open to all who fled to them for safety, Christ provides safety to all who come to Him for refuge from sin and its punishment (Acts 4:12).

The six Cities of Refuge beautifully portray our Lord Jesus Christ. The Cities of Refuge were there, the manslayer had to run there and stay there. Likewise, our Lord Jesus Christ beckons the sinners to come to Him and abide with Him continuously that they may have eternal life (John 3:16).

Christ is our refuge from eternal condemnation. Let us come to Jesus and we will find eternal rest in Him: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

  

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.