We read about the cities of refuge in the Old Testament at various places but it all speaks about the same thing. It gave protection to an offender. The following scriptures refer to the cities of refuge: Deut 19:1-13; Numbers 35:6-34; Deut 4:41-43 and Joshua 20:1-9. God spoke to Moses and Joshua and they named three cities each. The six cities were: Kedesh, Shechem, Kirjat Arba (Hebron), Bezer, Ramot and Golan.

Joshua 20:1-9 The LORD also spoke to Joshua, saying, speak to the children of Israel, saying: "Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.

Then if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand. And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled." So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah. And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.                  

These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.

Six cities were set aside as cities for refuge. From the North to the South on each side of the Jordan River three cities were strategically located to provide protection for those who had killed someone unintentionally. Three cities were located east of the Jordan River and three west of the Jordan River. In each set of three, one city was located in the north, one in the central and one in the south so that it could not take more than an half day, in those days, to reach a city of refuge.

Upon casting the death of another person intentionally or unintentionally, the killer had to flee to a sanctuary city until he could stand trial. If the murderer was found guilty of murder, the next of kin will execute him. It was a life for a life situation. If he was found guilty of manslaughter he could find sanctuary within a city of refuge, from then until the death of the reigning High Priest. At that point he could return to his home and will be free.
Only the death of the High Priest could release the offender to return home. This is a clear picture of what Jesus Christ has done for us. We are all guilty.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It does not matter which sin we have done. We all deserve to die unless we accept Jesus in our lives. He is the only way. Jesus was the sacrifice for us. He died for us to set us free. All our sins were upon Him. The death of Jesus (High Priest) on the cross, released us from our sin, only those who accept Him, so that we might go to our heavenly home and receive eternal life.

Romans 3:22-24 Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe; for there is no difference; For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

When we are in Jesus Christ, a city of refuge gives us a beautiful picture of our safety in Him. We are then free from the retaliation of sin, which was in our lives before. Sin cannot haunt our lives as before. When the offender stepped out of the safety and the protection, which the city of refuge offered the offender, there is no protection anymore. Walls were built around the cities to protect the inhabitants.

Abner (2 Samuel 2:22 - 2 Samuel 3:27) paid with his life when he stepped out of the city of refuge. We as believers can learn from that. It serves to give us a warning when we step out under the umbrella of His protection.

Today, there are many people who take refuge in a church membership. Some people take refuge in their parents, because they are Christians and believers. Other people take refuge in the law. May be you find refuge in an idol? There is only one way and that is, to take refuge in Jesus.

John 10:7-11 Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

Are you inside the city of refuge or outside? Are you wandering around, looking for a place where you can find refuge? Did you find another way of refuge in your life? There is only one way and that is Jesus. Jesus is the refuge for you!

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Abraham Potgieter                                                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2006                                                                                                                                                                All rights reserved                                                                                                Be blessed and be a Blessing, Abraham

We are South Africans now living in Germany. My family and I left South Africa in 1997. We were many years involved in a local church in South Africa. God led us to Israel. We left all in faith, just on a Word from God. We lived in Israel for 5 years before the Lord brought us to Germany. In Israel we were members in a Messianic Church in Jerusalem.

While we were in Israel the Lord led us to start our website, Bethesda House of Grace. We believe through this ministry on the web that many people were blessed and encouraged by our articles. We also believe that it will reach out to the lost of the world.

The Lord brought us to Germany in November 2001. Presently we are not involved in a church due to the language problem. We know that we are here for a purpose and a season. We are praying for the people around us and where ever we go.

I believe in the tentmakers ministry of Paul. Through my work here in Germany we are legally here. This is also the means how the Lord provides for us financially.

We are at a beginning of a new year and we know that the Lord is driving us in a new direction with new things and new revelations. We are excited about it because it is a year with new beginnings.

                                                                                                                                                         by Abraham Potgieter