When We Need Refuge

Today's Reading: Deuteronomy 19

Deuteronomy 19:8 (ESV) "And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as he has sworn to your fathers, and gives you all the land that he promised to give to your fathers..."

Accidents happen. For example, one time I accidentally drove into a parked car in the parking lot. Naturally, I panicked. I had never gotten in a car accident before, so I quickly Googled what to do. Once I went through all the steps, I filed a claim with my insurance company. Thankfully, they would help cover the damages to the other vehicle.

This is why having insurance is important. And the cities of refuge provided a type of "insurance" for the Israelites.

As Moses prepared the Israelites for the season of entering the promised land, the Lord called them to set apart cities of refuge. These areas would provide safety for those who had accidentally killed a person; they could come and live safely without fear of a revenge killing. (See Numbers 35:9-28 and Joshua 20:7-8 Numbers 35:9-28 and Joshua 20:7-8 for more about cities of refuge. ) Moses had already established three such cities on the east side of the Jordan River (Deuteronomy 4:41-43) and in today's passage established three more on the west side (Deuteronomy 19:2).

What a picture of God's mercy and grace. Even when mistakes were made, He provided a way out of harm for the manslayer who "did not deserve to die" (Deuteronomy 19:6). But those who intentionally killed someone would not be able to stay in those cities because they were guilty of murder. God looks at the motivation of the heart, not just the outward circumstances.

The commandment in Deuteronomy 19:8-9 may be the most beautiful commandment in this passage: As they grew in land and people, the Israelites were to make room for more cities of refuge. If a manslayer was caught by an avenger on the road to a city of refuge, they were not safe, so as Israel grew, God wanted to provide easier access to more places of safety.

Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." God provides our ultimate refuge in Jesus. Like the cities of refuge, Jesus offers safety to both foreigners and Israelites. Like the cities of refuge, Jesus provides the only way of protection from "the wages of sin" (Romans 6:23).

Unlike the cities of refuge, Jesus provides a refuge for even the most guilty sinner who turns from their deadly sin and trusts in Him as Lord (Luke 23:41-43; Acts 9:1-31).

Just like manslayers had to flee to the cities of refuge, when we run to Jesus and put our faith in Him, He provides a place for us. A place where we are no longer the guilty ones but the righteous ones because of His righteousness. A place where we are safe from the consequences of sin and death. He is the insurance for every accident and even every intentional wrong we commit, as long as we confess and repent of our sin (1 John 1:8-9).

Friend, this is the best news. No matter what you've done, regardless of your past mistakes, Jesus makes a way for refuge. He has prepared a place. There is no wrong you have done that cannot be forgiven. He is safe. All you have to do is run to Him. He is closer than you think.

Prayer: God, just like Psalm 46:1 says, thank You for being my refuge and strength, my ever-present help in trouble and times of need. By sending Jesus, You made a way for me to be free from the snare of sin and death. I confess my need for rescue, Lord. I come to You to be my refuge today and forever. In Jesus' name, amen.

More Moments About Deuteronomy 19

"Eye for eye, tooth for tooth..." Maybe you heard this phrase before reading Deuteronomy 19:21 and didn't realize it came from Scripture. But how does this verse apply when we have verses like Matthew 5:38-42 or like 1 Peter 3:9, which says, "Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing"?

These verses all provide us with an opportunity to check our motivation for retaliation. As humans, we can easily want to enact our own form of revenge, and often it causes more harm than the offender caused, not the same amount.

God is just. He administers justice, and it doesn't always look the way we want it to. Often we want an arm for an eye, or a life for a tooth. But when we surrender to God our need for revenge, we can rest in knowing He alone makes all things right again.

Major Moment: Moses spoke God's laws for cities of refuge and fair settlement of disputes.

This was originally published in the First 5 app as part of the study, Make It Count: Move Past Your Past and Live With Purpose Today, A Study of the Book of Deuteronomy.