INTRODUCTION
Numbers 35:9-15 King James Version (KJV)
9 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan;
11 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.
12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.
13 And of these cities which ye shall give six cities shall ye have for refuge.
14 Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge.
15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them: that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither.
Mon peuple, mon peuple it is that time of month once again. I hope it is a Blog that is not very controversial seems controversy is following me around these days. The last time we posted in June we were in the United States in Seattle, Washington. Although I did not want to return to Canada and to be very frank with you I am really not enjoying my return. I can think of one hundred and ninety five places in the world that I would rather be than in Canada. The level of criminality has increased, it is only because I am aware of the wiles of the enemy that I am coping. I am no longer so naive. In the interim as I am dealing with my papers I can go through the provinces. My brother whom I could depend on I can’t anymore. When I call his number I get a fax number and I don’t even know if my emails are going through. Well people it is what it is. I have to take my time to put back my identity. In the meantime Canada seems to have a serious inflation going on. The prices are very high in comparison to the United States. I had to give back a box of Juice because I was being charged fourteen cents additionally for that juice. The prices in Walmart are out of this world.
Let us look at some of my travels I mean British Columbia was lovely, the scenic mountains, valleys, rivers and lush vegetation.Vancouver is pretty and so is Kamloops. The Rocky Mountains are fantastic. Those of you looking real estate deals can find it in Surrey B.C. Calgary and Edmonton are not bad also. I am back in Canada so the excitement has disappeared. I have since been through Saskatchewan and Manitoba I am now in Winnipeg. I was just given a ticket for driving on the bus free. I tore it up and threw it away. I have no time for Canadian foolishness I have wasted ten years of my life by coming to Canada. The Bible says for the joy that was set before Him Jesus endured the shame of the cross. I have to continue to endure.
REFLECTIONS
As per usual I like to give you a little insight into why I chose my topic. This topic was chosen because I found myself travelling through the United States of America quite unplanned fleeing persecution, harassment, and discrimination from Canada a country I detest. While I was in New York December 2017 I heard the Rector at Trinity Church Wall Street mentioned that they wanted to build a place where people could come and be safe. It is now the second day of July 2018 when I have started writing my Blog on the captioned topic.
You are indeed a fool if you say there is no God. Atheist! What is that? The more I delve into the scriptures I am convinced that God is a good God who leaves nothing to chance. We will be looking at the purpose of a City of Refuge, the management and the contrast of the old cities of Moses with our New Testament Christianity.
CRITICAL DEFINITIONS
City - A large town
Refuge - A condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger or trouble.
City of Refuge - A city in ancient Israel appointed as a place of asylum for unintentional murderers.
BACKGROUND
Of the twelve tribes the Levites or Levitical tribe of the children of Israel did not have any physical inheritance among the brethren. The Lord would be their inheritance. Hence, the reason Joseph had a double portion, Ephraim and Manasseh. The major task of the Levites was to monitor the spiritual temperature of Israel. All matters related to the spiritual was to be done by them. They were consecrated and set apart for the work of God. However, they are human beings. God had Moses give them forty eight cities each tribe gave cities as they were able. The larger tribes gave more than the smaller tribes. Of these cities six were designated Cities of Refuge.
FEATURES OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE
Three of the cities were located on the eastward side of the Jordan. Bezer in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth-Gilead in the land of Gad and Golan in the land of Manasseh. On the westward side Kedesh in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the land of Ephraim and Hebron in the hill country of Judah Joshua 20 verses 7 - 8. They were strategically chosen so that anyone living in Israel, including strangers Joshua 20 verse 9 could flee to them within a day or less.
The establishment of these privileged sanctuaries among the cities of the Levites is probably traceable to the idea that the Levites would be the most suitable and impartial judges, that their presence and counsels might calm or restrain the stormy passions of the blood avenger. By their consecration as priests, the Levites were mediators between the Israelites and God. As such they would have been gifted to calmly mediate between the attacker and the victim’s family, ensuring that no further unnecessary bloodshed would occur.
"Corresponding to the care for the proper location of these (asylum) cities were the other ordinances referring to them. The roads leading to them were marked by sign-posts at the crossroads, with the inscription "Miklat" (Refuge); the roads were very broad . . . smooth and level, in order that the fugitive might not be hindered . . ." (1906 Jewish Encyclopedia)
QUALIFICATIONS TO BE A REFUGEE
God in His infinite wisdom knows that accidents do happen and instead of leaving it to men to deal with situations arbitrarily and because He was developing a model society or a prototype for mankind put mechanisms in place to deal with the matter when these occurrences took place. An example of when an intentional death can take place is when men are cutting down trees, an axe head breaks and fatally wounds someone Deuteronomy 19 verse 5. An intentional death occurs when someone is killed ‘with malice’ meaning that they perish at the hands of someone who hates them. Having entered one of the Cities of Refuge a person had to first explain, to local elders, what happened Joshua 20 verse 4. They were then given a place to stay until a trial could be conducted Numbers 35 verse 12.The city guaranteed the safety of those seeking asylum against being killed in retaliation by the "avenger of blood" Joshua 20 verse 3. This "avenger" was usually the nearest kin of the person who died. It was considered their duty to revenge the death of their family member Joshua 20 verse 9.If in a particular city of refuge it was determined that the accused accidently caused the death of another human, they could live, protected, from the "avenger of blood" only if they stayed in that location. They could only safely return to their home after the death of the High Priest Joshua 20 verse 6. If they left before the priest died, they risked being killed by the "avenger" who could kill them, outside of the cities of refuge, without penalty Numbers 35 verses 26 - 28. If the accused was convicted of murder, they were turned over to the avenger of blood. The avenger was then to carry out the death penalty Numbers 35 verse 19, 21, Deuteronomy 19 verse 12. Those who killed, either accidently or with malice, were not allowed to pay a ransom in the cities of refuge in order to avoid the consequences of their behavior Numbers 35 verse 31 -32.
THE MEANING OF THE NAMES OF THE CITIES
The Hebrew word Kedesh means to consecrate or separate oneself.
The Hebrew word Shechem means between the shoulders or burden bearer.
The Hebrew word Hebron means fellowship or confederation.
The Hebrew word for Bezer means fortress or fortified.
The Hebrew word for Ramoth-Gilead means exalted or high.
The Hebrew word for Golan means rejoicing.
Having reached this city you will have entered a fortress , you will be exalted and will continue to rejoice. You separate yourself and start to act responsibly.
SIGNIFICANCE IN THE ERA OF THE NEW COVENANT
The cities of refuge are types of Christ, in whom sinners find a refuge from the destroyer of our souls. Just as the guilty person sought refuge in the cities set up for that purpose, we flee to Christ for refuge from sin . We run to Christ to escape the danger we are in from the curse and condemnation of the law, from of the wrath of God, and from an eternity in hell. Only Christ provides refuge from these things, and it is to Him alone that we must run. Just as the cities were open to all who fled to them for safety, it is Christ who provides safety to all who come to Him for refuge from sin and its punishment.
The City of Refuge in my opinion is both physical and spiritual so let us not get spooky spiritual. Life happens and for one reason or another from time to time people are going to need protection. Ask Messers Assange , Timeline: Julian Assange's Story Thus Far, Snowden Edward Snowden :THUS FAR and Rushdie Salman Rushdie... or even Raphleta. The ideal situation based on the prototype laid down by God is that the facilitation of this system should be people of God and ideally each nation should have this system. Unfortunately, we live in a broken world. More and more I traverse this North America I have come to this realization. What can you say when you are speaking to a Psychiatric Nurse of twenty seven years who does not believe in God? But his major task is to assist in healing the soul of a person. We all know that only Jesus can restore a man’s soul not drugs, Buddhism, yoga or meditation. He made us, He can fix it. He blew breath into man and man became a living soul.
The European Union is now faced with a refugee problem European Migrant Crisis, Canada has one of the most exploitative refugee policy Canada's Failing Refugee System in the world. The systems in other nations have collapsed so that, nations have taken up the slack. The church all over the world seems to missing in action, nobody is seeking refuge with them. Everyone seems to be afraid of annoying their bakers the government.
COMAPRISON OF THE CITY OF REFUGE AND THE ATONEMENT BY CHRIST
RULES
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APPLICATIONS
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The manslayer sought intervention from judgement for an action he had accidentally committed by fleeing to the city of refuge and the high priest would intercede for him. So he would be protected from the normal consequences of his actions.
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This is the significance of the salvation message our coming to Jesus Christ as we are and He becoming our High Priest and making intercessions on our behalf. It is a pleasure reading the book of Hebrews about the new Covenant.
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Under the Mosaic Law it was a life for a life but by interceding the High Priest averted this punishment against the manslayer.
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Jesus our high Priest paid it all for us on Calvary’s cross. His intervention was to literally take our place by shedding His blood on the cross. The blood of bulls and goats were no longer adequate.
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The manslayer was only free once the High Priest had died.
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Once you have confessed Jesus as your Lord and saviour true freedom is only in Christ as written by the Apostle Paul while in jail in chains. This High Priest reigneth forever.
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The inhabitants of the city of Refuge were expected to look after the manslayer.
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This s an example of the community that we are to display as Christians. People are to know us because of the love that we display.
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The decision in the manslayer’s case was given by the congregation.
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This is indicative that in the future we will be judging angels and that we are to be able to deal with matters in our community now. We are to occupy until God comes. The heavens of the heavens are the Lord the earth He has given to men.
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CONCLUSION
In concluding, let us take advantage of our refuge the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only in Him that we can be fortified, exalted, sustained, consecrated through our fellowship with the Holy Spirit and other believers which will lead to our rejoicing. The Bible says that if we are in a position to help if we do not then it is sin. Let us from here on in become our brothers keeper. You might not be a city of Refuge but seek to be someone of substance that does not live a selfish life.
These days social justice to the church only seems to be Gay Rights. Let us not be following the world’s agenda but the agenda of God. Remember Levites should not take bribe.
Once again, this is me Lillene's baby Girl coming to you from Winnipeg, Manitoba looking to cross the border to finish my other twenty seven states. Luv yuh!!
À bientôt
REFERENCES
Thank God for the Lord who is our refuge.
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