Victory’s Battle Cry—A Study in Joshua, Part 18-Our Place of Refuge
After all the land was divided amongst the tribes of Israel, God then commands Joshua to establish the six cities of refuge which He had previously commanded in the law given to Moses. These were cities that people who committed homicide could flee for refuge from “the avenger of blood.” The penalty for taking another’s life is death; but, in this case if the death of the other was due to involuntary manslaughter instead of premeditated murder, there was a place to go for refuge.
Joshua 20 (GNV) “ 3 That the slayer that killeth any person [a]by ignorance, and unwittingly, may flee thither, and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.”
Then, you might ask, “What does that have to do with me?” Ah, that is the question, we must ask; for the scripture is all given for our edification.
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Am I not guilty of Christ’s blood which was shed in my place? Did not my sin hang him on that cross? Indeed, I might try to plead ignorance or attempt to say that I wasn’t there. Yet, as soon as I hear the truth, I choose either to accept Christ’s atonement for my sin or to reject Him. By choosing Him, I become accepted in Him to enter the “city of refuge”. Denying Him would make me as one who caused Christ’s death with a heart of hatred toward Him.
Romans 8: (KJV) “6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” In Christ (our place of refuge) we are no longer in a place of being pursued by the “avenger of blood” and no longer need fear the penalty of death. Additionally, we need to look at the significance of the names of these six cities to recognize the magnitude of what we find in Christ, our refuge.
1. Kadesh- means Holy. In Christ, we are made Holy as He clothes us with His righteousness.
2. Shechem means shoulder. There are four areas of significance found in this word shoulder. For in Christ, we find a place of refuge where we are carried upon His shoulder to avoid the mud below. Secondly, He carries the weight of our trials, sins, and guilt upon his shoulder. Thirdly, in Christ we find a loving, empathetic shoulder to cry upon when life’s trials seem too hard to bear. Fourthly, just as the shoulder of the sacrificed ram was to be the provision of food for the priests, in Christ, we find our provision for all that we need.
3. Hebron means Fellowship. In Christ, we find fellowship with God. A friend who so longs to be with us, lovingly listen and guide us along this journey of life.
4. Bezer – means fortress or stronghold. In Christ we find our fortress and strong tower to protect us. He will keep us forever in Him by His power and His might.
5. Ramoth means High and Exalted. We know that Christ is Highly exalted above all. Philippians 2: “8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” In Christ, He has chosen to lift us up to a position of being high and exalted with Him. Job 5: 10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
6. Golan means Joy. In Christ we have Joy. He is our joy.
Oh, what wondrous place of refuge we have in Christ; and, therefore we have hope overflowing.
Hebrews 6 (KJV) 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
So, my questions for you are: “Do you know Christ as your Savior? Can you turn your eyes toward heaven and sing, “You Are My Refuge”?
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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