Joshua 20

CHAPTER 20THEME: Cities of refugeThe cities of refuge set before us a vivid scene which has a remarkable lesson for us. God gave to the children of Israel a commandment regarding setting aside certain cities for refuge. It is interesting that many tribes and many primitive people have had this same thing. Evidently this is something that was passed on to all mankind. The cities of refuge were for the protection of one who had killed another accidentally. In the Hawaiian Islands, on the Kona coast of the Big Island, there is a place known as the City of Refuge. It was in use back in the days before Christianity came to the Islands, when the tribes were slaying each other and even offering human sacrifices. It is there as a tourist attraction today. God’s commandment for the establishment of cities of refuge was first given in Exo_21:13: “And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.” Then explicit directions for the cities of refuge are given in Numbers 35the entire chapter. “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” (Num_35:11). Now that the children of Israel are in the Promised Land and each tribe has been allotted its portion of land, the Lord speaks to Joshua about assigning certain cities to be cities of refuge.

Joshua 20:2

If one man killed another, it would be one of two things. It would either be manslaughterthat is, the killing of another accidentally, or it would be premeditated murder. In Israel a murderer would be stoned to death. If in our society we had capital punishment for murder, with no “ifs” and “ands” about it, and the man who was guilty was executed quickly, it would save countless lives. We wouldn’t be seeing our police officers shot down or storekeepers held up and murdered without mercy. My friend, God knows human nature.

This was His law. However, if one killed another unintentionally, without premeditation, he is to be provided protection. There is an example given in Scripture of two men out in the woods, cutting down a tree. The axe head comes off the handle and strikes one of the men and kills him. Suppose the brother of the slain man says, “I know that man had it in for my brother. He did that purposely.

I’m going to kill him!” That man wouldn’t have a chance unless there was a place of refuge. So the man who had been responsible for the death would be given the opportunity of running to one of the cities of refuge.

Joshua 20:4

The city of refuge has a great spiritual lesson for you and me. The Lord Jesus Christ was slain. And the Scripture makes it clear that not only was the Lord Jesus Christ slain, but He is our city of refuge today. Speaking of Christ as our refuge, the writer of Hebrews says, “who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” The reference, of course, is to those who, though conscious of their own sinfulness, have availed themselves of the salvation that was secured for them by our Lord upon the cross. All who find a refuge in Him are saved forever from the judgment of a holy God. Now who is guilty of slaying Christ? The whole world is guilty. Both Jew and Gentile stand guilty before God as having participated in that which brought about the death of His Son. But Christ came to give Himself a ransom for all. And His sacrifice on the cross has opened up, as it were, a city of refuge for all who put their trust in Him. It is absolutely wrong to try to blame the Jew for the crucifixion of Christ. He was not crucified on a Jewish cross; He was crucified on a Roman cross. But it is useless to pin the blame on any one people. One racial group is as guilty as another. We all are in the same position. We are all guilty. Peter, in his second sermon to his Jewish brethren, said, “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled” (Act_3:17-18). Therefore Peter could say to them, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted.” The apostle Paul makes it clear that the Gentiles are also guilty. “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought…. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1Co_2:6, 1Co_2:8). According to these passages, God looks upon the whole world as guilty of the sin of manslaughter in connection with the death of Christ. To be specific, you are guilty. But you can point the finger right back at me and say, “You are guilty.” But, thank God, His death made a city of refuge, a place for you and me to come. As the song writer, George Keith, put it, How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word! What more can He say than to you He hath said, To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled? Have you fled to Jesus for refuge? There is protection there. What a wonderful chapter this is!