“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.” (Joshua 20:2-3)
This may seem an odd Scripture to study, but we will see how God provided lots of pointers to Jesus in the Old Testament. First, let’s find out what this Scripture is about. When the Israelites got to the Promised Land and the people were allotted their land, the Lord commanded them to have cities of refuge in different areas. There were a total of six cities of refuge. If anyone killed someone accidently, they were to reach one of these cities to avoid being executed for murder. They were required to remain in these cities until the priest there died. (Numbers 35:6-34)
We can see how this points to Jesus. Jesus is our refuge. He is our refuge from the wrath of God for sin. In the Old Testament, the one that murdered accidently had to reach the city of refuge before the avenger caught up with him. Although he didn’t intend for someone to die, someone did die at his hands. And it was an offense punishable by death. We can run to Jesus and are shielded by Him from the punishment of death, that we deserve for our sin.
We put lots of weight on the gravity of sin. But to God, all sin, whether it is murder or just a white little lie, is the same to Him. All sin deserves death. Sin cannot exist in His presence. It brings death by God’s wrath for sin. Only the payment for sin satisfies that wrath. And that is the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God, on the cross.
Now, when Jesus died on the cross, He died for all people, in the whole world. He died for us when we were sinners. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) That word “commendeth” means demonstrated. God demonstrated His love for us while we were sinners. That tells us of His love for us. His wrath tells us of His hatred for our sin. God provided a refuge for us so that we could be saved from the wrath toward sin. Just as He provided a city of refuge.
We will find throughout the Bible, God’s understanding and patience for our inability to completely be free from sin. It is only when we are in Jesus that the process, the work of God in us to perfect us, begins. This is a life long process. When we have gotten victory in one area, the Lord shows us another area that needs work. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) In some other versions of the Bible instead of the word “finisher” the word ”perfecter” is in its place. And that is what God works in those who belong to Him.
From the beginning, the Lord has been merciful toward man, always making a way for man to turn to Him. He has provided all we need and has made it available for us to turn to Him. He was patient with the Israelites who could not be faithful to Him. He was patient with the people in Noah’s time, giving them so many years to turn to Him before the flood. He was patient with Jonah who didn’t want Nineveh to repent. He was patient with Abraham’s lapse in faith, Moses’ fears and the sinfulness of nations until there is no remedy (1 Chronicles 36:16). And He is patient with us. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9) He is patient because He doesn’t want us to perish, to suffer His wrath toward our sin.
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