The Cities of Refuge - A Type of the Lord’s Church

by Heath Rogers

In Numbers 35:11-34, the Lord gave instructions regarding the cities of refuge. These cities played an important role in maintaining justice in Israel.

The ancient Near East had a custom - when a person was killed, their nearest relative had the responsibility to slay the murderer. This relative was called the “avenger of blood.” The cities of refuge were set apart so that if anyone accidentally killed a person (without hatred, enmity, or premeditation – Num. 35:20-21) they could flee to one of these cities and be protected from the avenger of blood.

Upon reaching the city, they were to be received by the elders and their case was to be heard. If the trial showed they had taken a life by accident, they would be given asylum in the city of refuge. They had to remain in the city until the death of the high priest. If they left the city before the death of the high priest, they were subject to death at the hands of the avenger of blood.

There were six cities of refuge in Israel: three in the land of Canaan and three beyond the Jordan. In Deuteronomy 4:41-43, Moses set up three of these cities on the east side of the Jordan River: Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan. In Joshua 20, the other three cities were set up on the west side of the Jordan River: Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron (also known as Kirjath Arba). These cities were spread equally throughout the land and were easily accessible by roads (Deut. 19:2-3). These cities were six of the 48 cities given to the Levites (Joshau 21), so the inhabitants of these cities of refuge would have been knowledgeable of the law and merciful towards their countrymen.

We don’t read much of the cities of refuge in the remainder of the Bible, but it is apparent they were a type of the Lord’s church. The Hebrew writer tells Christians that “we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us” (Heb. 6:18). In coming to Christ for salvation we have fled for refuge. The moment we are saved, we are added by the Lord to the church (Acts 2:47).

Consider the analogies between the cities of refuge and the church.

· The cities of refuge were for those who were in danger of the avenger of blood. Sinners are in danger of death (Ezek. 18:20; Rom. 6:23).

· The roads to the cities of refuge were plain and accessible. The “road” to salvation in Christ and His church is equally plain and accessible to “whosoever is willing.”

· One had to abide within the city of refuge to remain safe from the avenger of blood. One has to abide in Christ and His church to remain in a saved condition (John 15:1-6; Eph. 5:23; Rev. 2:10).

· The manslayer had to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. Jesus is our High Priest forever because He can’t die (Heb. 7:23-24, 28). We must always remain in His church to escape the penalty for our sins.

· The cities of refuge were made up of Levites who knew the law and were to be merciful to the people. The Lord’s church is made up of priests (all Christians are priests – 1 Pet. 2:5, 9) who are to know God’s word and show mercy to one another.

Meditate on these things:

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

Comfort for Troubled Hearts

By Jeff Curtis

Jesus had revealed to His apostles that He would be leaving them, for the time had come for Him to return to the Father (John 14:12). This news was shocking to them. They had grown to trust in His earthly presence. With Him, they were confident, without Him, they were confused. Breaking the silence that must have followed, Peter asked, “Lord, where are You going?” He was told, “Where I go, you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later” (John 13:37). “No,” said Jesus, in effect, “you will not. You will deny Me before the night is over.”

The darkness of that night had entered their hearts. They needed some reassuring. How did Jesus calm their fear? We can believe that what He gave to them, He also gives to us.

Jesus offered them a faith to embrace. He asked them to believe – in God and in Him. He gave them two essential things: “Believe in God, believe also in Me” (John 14:1). This was not a time for them to doubt; it was instead a time for them to trust. What had been promised to them had been fulfilled. God and Christ had provided them in the past and would continue to do as they were going through the nightmare that lay ahead of them.

When the shades of a dark night gather around us – when answers are few and the future is blurred because of tears in our eyes, we must continue to believe. God knows the way through the wilderness that comforts us, Jesus will hold on to us as we hold on to Him.

Jesus showed them a future to envision. He told them to anticipate living in the heavenly realm. He pointed to the beautiful future that the believe has. He said,

² In My Father’s house are many ^[a]mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself” (John 14:2,3).

Difficult times should remind us that this world is not our eternal abiding place. We are pilgrims, workers who are here for a while and then gone. It has been said that “we are not citizens of this world trying to get to heaven, but citizens of heaven trying to get through this world.” We are unable to face our earthly woes and foes until, we have the image of our eternal home implanted firmly in our minds.

Jesus gave a fellowship to expect. He said to rejoice in the reunion that is to come. He reminded His apostles that their separation wouldn’t last forever. It was only temporary. He would bring them to the very place He was going, so that where He was, there they could be also (John 14:3).

The hope of heaven becomes even brighter when we remember the fellowship that it contains. We are not just going to a place; we are going to a reunion. The value of a reunion doesn’t lie in where it’s held, but who if there. Heaven contains a beauty that minds can’t comprehend, but the fellowship that will be enjoyed there doubles and redoubles its beauty. John wrote: “³ And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4).

Meditate on this:

Proverbs 17:27

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.