It is an amazing comfort to think of God as our refuge. When life seems unbearable because the way seems unclear we can always turn to God for hope and help. Does the idea of a refuge carry the same weight in todays culture as it did in the Old Testament? In a time when security and safety was lost or found based upon your cities walls, a place of refuge that would always persist no matter what trials and troubles come was a priceless treasure. The refuge of God offers us today is the same refuge that was extended to the people of Israel through the Cities of Refuge. When God is our refuge does He only protecting us from outside forces that seek to destroy us? God also holds our heart, mind, soul and strength within His refuge. Continue Reading…
A Tide of Love extending from Calvary: Psalm 7
God’s faithfulness proved in fulfillment of promise: Joshua 21 and 22
I am stunned today during my time reading in Joshua chapters 21 and 22. The words seemed to come to life as I read them. It can be easy to just read through the Bible just to finish a particular book or chapter. It was encouraging to see how scripture is fulfill which God promised and proclaimed to the Israelites. God is faithful to complete all that He promises us and that is a great encouragement. The Levites receiving cities to dwell in and the tribes of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returning home after the other tribes were at rest testifies to the faithfulness of God. Continue Reading…
Stumbling blocks, careful you don’t fall: Joshua 19 and 20
The sons of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan were given their inheritance by lot from Joshua and Eleazar in Joshua 19. I continue to find it interesting how all these tribes are laid out throughout the promised land. It is easy to just read these chapters and not see anything that stands out because I have no knowledge of the region or cities. In the midst of these verses describing the dividing of the land the sons of Simeon and Dan inheritances stood out. Continue Reading…
Refuge and strength in Jesus Christ: Deuteronomy 19 and 20
I love how God provides cities of refuge for the people of Israel to run to if they are charged with manslaughter. These cities of refuge were a prefect solution for people to have protection from vigilante justice. In Deuteronomy chapter 19 Moses repeats God’s command that cities of refuge would be spread throughout the land that the Israelites would inherit. These cities of refuge were places where a person could be safe until it was determined whether they were guilty of manslaughter or not. I remember when I first read about cities of refuge in Numbers 35 and 36 how I began to wonder about the stories of people running to a city of refuge. Continue Reading…
Cities of Refuge for the Israelites in Numbers 35 and 36
When the land was divided up between all the tribes of Israel the Levites were given a portion of the cities. Chapter 35 denotes six of these cities as ‘Cities of Refuge’ for anyone who had accidentally killed someone or committed a crime. I wonder if there were ever life or death races to a refuge city. Could justice have been served for the innocent people in any other way? In a society where there were constant life and death struggles between one nation and another it seems like such a different life compared to today. But you still see people today that want to be a vigilante and take the law into their own hands and these cities of refuge would help protect people from such vigilantes. Continue Reading…
