Connect Numbers 35:12 with Jesus as our ultimate refuge and advocate. Finding Safety in a Dangerous World Numbers 35:12 sets the tone: “They will be cities of refuge for you from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the congregation.” What Were the Cities of Refuge? • Six cities, three on each side of the Jordan (Numbers 35:14) • Strategically spaced so anyone could reach one quickly • Open to Israelites, foreigners, and sojourners alike (Numbers 35:15) • Offered protection from the “avenger of blood” until a fair trial could be held • Guarded by Levites—spiritually minded leaders entrusted with preserving life How These Cities Foreshadow Christ • God provided them; people didn’t invent them → Christ is God’s provision, not human effort (John 3:16). • Refuge was free and immediately effective once inside → salvation is by grace, received the moment we come to Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). • The gates never shut → Christ’s invitation is continual: “Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away” (John 6:37). • Levites maintained the cities → our High Priest maintains our refuge: “He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Jesus Our Refuge • Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” • Hebrews 6:18 echoes Numbers 35 with New-Covenant clarity: “We who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.” • Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” • Romans 8:1: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Jesus Our Advocate • 1 John 2:1: “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” • Romans 8:34: “Christ Jesus… is at the right hand of God—and He is interceding for us.” • Hebrews 4:15-16 assures us that our Advocate sympathizes with our weaknesses and invites us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence.” Living Inside the Refuge • Rest in His security—no avenger can touch you while you abide in Christ (John 10:28-29). • Keep the pathway clear—confession keeps fellowship uncluttered (1 John 1:9). • Invite others to run to Him—the cities welcomed all; so does Christ (Revelation 22:17). • Remember who maintains your safety—His intercession, not your performance, holds the gates open (Hebrews 7:25). The ancient cities of refuge highlight a timeless truth: God Himself supplies a safe haven for the guilty. In Jesus, that refuge and advocacy reach their ultimate fulfillment—strong, accessible, and eternally secure. |
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