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Numbers 35:9-34 – Cities of Refuge

There is a great deal of gospel in the cities of refuge. There are several cities of refuge, and they are in several parts of the country that the man-slayer, wherever he lives in the land of Israel, might in half a day reach one of them; so, though there is but one Christ appointed for our refuge, yet, wherever we are, He is a refuge at hand, a very present help. The manslayer is safe in any of these cities; so in Christ believers that flee to Him, and rest in Him, are protected from the wrath of God and the curse of the law. There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8:1. They are all Levites’ cities; it is a kindness to the poor prisoner that though he might not go up to the place where the ark is, yet he is in the midst of Levites, who will teach him the good knowledge of the Lord. It might also be expected that the Levites will comfort and encourage him, and bid him welcome; so it is the work of gospel ministers to bid poor sinners welcome to Christ, and to assist and counsel those that through grace are in Him. Even strangers and sojourners, though they are not native Israelites, might benefit from these cities of refuge. So in Christ Jesus no difference in made between Greek and Jew; even the sons of the stranger that by faith flee to Christ shall be safe in Him. The protection which the manslayer finds in the city of refuge is not due to the strength of its walls, or gates, or bars, but purely to God’s law; so it is the word of the gospel that gives souls safety in Christ. If the offender is ever caught outside the borders of his city of refuge, or stealing home to his house again, he loses the benefit of his protection, and is exposed to the avenger of blood; so those that are in Christ must abide in Christ, for it is at their peril if they forsake Him and wander from Him.

Question

  1. What do these cities teach us about Christ?
  2. What happens if the manslayer leaves the city of refuge?

Prayer Points

  1. Give thanks that Christ is our refuge.
  2. Use prayer points from your congregation.
  3. Pray for family matters.