Joshua 20 - Jesus is Our Refuge

7 So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah. 8 And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.   God had told Moses in Exodus 21:13, Numbers 35:6-34, and Deuteronomy 19:1-13, to have the people set aside special six "cities of refuge". Now that the tribes had received their territories, Joshua could assign these cities and that’s what we read about now in Joshua 20. As we said yesterday, these cities of refuge are a beautiful picture of our salvation in Jesus Christ, to whom we "have fled for refuge" (Hebrews 6:18). The lost sinner, of course, is in danger of judgment because "the wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). The avenger of blood is after him or her! God's appointed Savior is Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12), but the sinner must come to Him by faith in order to be saved (Matt. 11:28-30; John 6:37). The way to each city was kept open with roads that were cared for and marked (Deut. 19:3). God wanted it to be easy for the fugitives to find their way to safety.   Beyond this, the picture is one of contrast. When we come to Christ for salvation, there's no need for an investigation or a trial, because we know we're guilty; and we admit it! The only people Jesus can save are those who confess their guilt and throw themselves on His mercy.   If the fugitive prematurely left the city of refuge, he could be killed; but our salvation in Christ is not conditional. Our High Priest will never die, and we are forever secure. "But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:24-25).   The meanings of the names of the cities are interesting and can be used to describe what we as sinners experience when we flee by faith to Jesus. Taking them in the order listed in Joshua 20:7-8, you have: Kedesh means "righteousness". Jesus gives us His righteousness, and we can never be accused again. There is no condemnation! (Romans 8:1). Shechem means "shoulder" and Hebron means "fellowship". Like a shepherd, Jesus carries us on His shoulders, and we enter into fellowship with Him. Bezer means "fortress" or "strong"; Ramoth means "heights" and some say that Golan means "exile." Jesus is our fortress, our stronghold, and we are safe. We dwell in the heights even though we are exiles, pilgrims, and strangers in this world.   We discover our seventh lesson in these cities of refuge. Unless we have fled by faith to Jesus Christ, we aren't saved! Since our sins put Jesus on the cross, all of us are guilty of His death. He is the only Savior, and apart from faith in Him, there is no salvation. Have you fled to Him?   God bless!