In Joshua 20:1 (NLT), the LORD said to Joshua,
“Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. Anyone who kills another person accidentally and unintentionally can run to one of these cities; they will be places of refuge from relatives seeking revenge for the person who was killed.”

After the promised land was divided to the families of the children of Israel, God commanded Joshua to designate 6 cities to be cities of refuge. The reason? If someone committed manslaughter - which means killing someone without malice or thought, they would have a place of protection until the proper court trial determined their guilt or innocence.

The taking of a human life is very serious to God. He approves of capital punishment in the case of murder. Genesis 9:6 (NLT), “If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image.”

This carries over into the New Testament when Paul writes:

Romans 13:3-4 (NLT) “For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong.”

When murder or manslaughter were committed, someone called the avenger of blood (many times a family member of the person who was slain) would pursue the wrongdoer to exact punishment. The city of refuge was the place of protection.

Joshua 20:4 (NLT) “Upon reaching one of these cities, the one who caused the death will appear before the elders at the city gate and present his case. They must allow him to enter the city and give him a place to live among them.”

If the elders deemed his case to be manslaughter, or unintentional, the person was protected as long as he stayed within the boundaries of the city.

Joshua 20:6 (NLT) “But the slayer must stay in that city and be tried by the local assembly, which will render a judgment. And he must continue to live in that city until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the accident. After that, he is free to return to his own home in the town from which he fled.”

So what does this mean to us today? Think about the one who committed manslaughter. Although it was an accident or unintentional, the fact is, a life was taken. There is an indication that maybe this person was careless. Maybe he didn’t regard human life as he should. If he had valued life, maybe he would have taken precautions to be more careful.

You might say, “but I would never take a human life.” But so many people live haphazardly, not considering that every day is important. You may not commit manslaughter, but if you’re distracted and living a carnal, worldly life, you can miss opportunities to impact people around you with the life giving massage of the gospel. We must realize that people really do go to hell that don’t receive Jesus. We can make a difference.

Bottom line…the cities of refuge were a picture of Jesus.

Psalms 46:1 (NLT) “…God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.”

God’s Word tells us 15 times that He is a refuge that we can run to in any time of need.

Hebrews 6:18 (NLT) “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.”

How Jesus and the cities of refuge correlate:

1. They were both easy to reach.

2. They were both a place to find life and escape death and judgement.

3. They were both open to all, not just Israelites but all mankind.

4. They were both open to the guilty and innocent.

Lastly, remember what we read in verse 6? The slayer was to stay in the city until the death of the priest. But when the priest died, the slayer had freedom to go. Oh my. Did you get that? Jesus, our high priest, died to present us complete deliverance from all our sin. He is our city of refuge in the times of judgement. The door is open to find liberty because he paid our price in full. Run to the refuge of freedom in Christ, no matter what you might be guilty of today.