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Daily Devotions

Cities of Refuge

By June 26, 2013No Comments

Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares. And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment. Numbers 35:11-12 KJV

In ancient Israel it was not entirely up to the government to avenge a murder; each extended family had a recognized avenger who would ensure the one who murdered a family member would be punished. The purpose of the cities of refuge was to protect someone who killed a person accidentally. The Bible applies the use of these cities to the believer finding refuge in God (Ps. 46:1; Heb. 6:18), especially the Lord Jesus Christ. A crucial distinction between these cities and our refuge in Christ is that the cities of refuge only helped the innocent, but the guilty are encouraged to go to Jesus for refuge. If you have not already, we encourage you to flee to Jesus for refuge from the penalty of sin.

Lord, how grateful I am that I fled to you for refuge! Not only will You provide safety for me in the judgment to come, but You have also been a place of security in the present.

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