I want to share from both Chapter 20 and 21 today. Both chapters record God’s specific instructions given to Moses, and now for Joshua to follow through.
• God made specific provisions for two particular needs.
• Josh 20 – to designate 6 cities as cities of refuge, for those who killed someone accidentally and unintentionally.
• Josh 21 – to make provision for specific towns to be assigned to the Levites (the priests) because they are not given any inheritance.
[Read Joshua 20:1-6] THE CITIES OF REFUGE
God wants justice even for criminals, especially those who are caught killing someone in an accident. They are to be given a fair trial.
• So places of refuge need to be provided for these people to get immediate protection from the avengers, because in such situations, many will react rashly and seek revenge.
• The accused can run to these cities and seek refuge. And wait for a proper trial, given by the assembly of Levites who dwell in these cities.
• These cities are also the assigned cities where the Levites stay. God planned it that way.
The accused stays here until the death of the high priest, and then he is free to go.
• If the avenger kills the man while he is inside the city or outside when the high priest has already passed on, then he would himself become a murderer.
• If the avenger takes the man before he reached the city of refuge, it is seen as the accused having brought about his own downfall, and the case is considered closed.
God instructed that THREE cities to be designated on the EAST side of River Jordan and another THREE on the Western side.
• The cities are well-spread out throughout the land so that any accused can run to one as quickly as possible.
• In fact, Deut 19:3 tells us they are to BUILD ROADS TO THESE CITIES so that the fugitives can have easy access to them.
Remember that these instructions were given to Moses (Num 35) way before the Israelites entered Canaan.
• It was well thought-out and planned for because God is merciful. He protects the “innocent” manslayer from reckless vengeance. He saves his life.
• God cares enough to provide man with what He needs, ahead to time.
This physical provision reminds us of God’s greater provision – Jesus Christ.
• That’s an eternal refuge. In Christ, God gives us, not physical safety but eternal security, not our physical life but life eternal.
• We are forever secure only IN Christ. There is no salvation outside of Him.
• And freedom comes with the death of the high priest, the Israelites were taught. With Jesus’ death comes freedom from guilt and shame.
God provides. God provides what we need. God provides ahead of time.
---------------------
Chapter 21 addresses another provision. God commanded through Moses that towns are to be set aside for the Levites, the priests.
[Read Joshua 21:1-3, 41] THE TOWNS FOR LEVITES
Every tribe was allotted their inheritance except the Levites. They were set apart for service in the tabernacle and to administer the sacrifices.
• As spiritual leaders providing guidance to the people, they are not to be distracted by the daily needs in the fields.
• Hence no specific territory is assigned to them. They are to stay in the towns designated, and again they are distributed throughout the land.
• The Levites, as priests, will live in the midst of the people to provide spiritual leadership and guidance.
So 48 towns are to be given the Levites, together with the pasturelands. Why the pasturelands? Where are they?
• Num 35:2-5 “And give them pasturelands around the towns. 3Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for their cattle, flocks and all their other livestock. 4"The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend out fifteen hundred feet from the town wall. 5Outside the town, measure three thousand feet on the east side, three thousand on the south side, three thousand on the west and three thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.”
• Num 35:8 The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.”
• The tribe with a bigger land and more towns are to provide more for the Levities. It makes sense.
Can you see the extent God goes to, in making these arrangements? The instructions were precise and detailed. They were well thought-out.
• We read Leviticus and we know how detail God can be. Nothing is by random. They are planned and purposeful.
God is serious about the welfare of His people. He is serious about providing for their needs. God plans everything for the good of His people.
• Can we not trust Him? Can we not be assured that God knows and cares about our needs today? Can we even think that He would miss out on what we need?
1. GOD FORESEES OUR NEEDS
The Word tells us nothing is left to chance. God foresees the needs of His people and He gives instructions for these needs to be met. This is the heart of God.
• Jesus says in Matt 6:32 – do not worry too much about what we eat, drink or wear, because our heavenly Father knows that you need them.
God knows our need before we know it.
2. GOD PROVIDES OUR NEEDS
Phil 4:19 “God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Paul)
2 Peter 1:3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (Peter)
When Abraham was asked to offer up his son Isaac, he didn’t know that God has prepared a ram. Of course, he doesn’t know. It was supposed to be a test.
Abraham trusted God. We know the story. He did not offer his son because God had provided a ram! Abraham called the place, JEHOVAH JIREH, “The Lord Will Provide” (Gen 22:14).
God provided what he needs – a ram for the sacrifice. God eventually provided what mankind really needs – an atoning Lamb as the sacrifice for our sin.
Prophet Elijah was running away from King Ahab, God asked him to flee to Kerith Ravine, east of river Jordan. God has sent a drought but there’s still water here. God: “You will drink water from the brook. I have ordered some ravens to feed you there.” (1 Kings 17:4) Ravens brought him bread and meat, morning and night!
After the brook dried up, God said, “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." (1 Kings 17:9) She was left with her last meal but the Lord did a miracle. 1 Kings 17:14 “For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.”
God does not necessarily give us what we WANT, but we cannot fault God for not giving us what we NEED.
• The Scripture is clear. God FORESEES our needs and He will make provisions to meet our needs. Which He has, I’m sure we all experienced it.
If you feel that God is not giving you what you need, you must ask the question, is that a NEED or a WANT.
• I know that this line can be quite thin for some of us and we are not sure. Sometimes our wants can look like our needs. Of course, we will like to think that all our wants are our needs.
• God knows our needs perfectly, not us. We don’t always know what we really need. We can end up letting our greed and materialism drives us, and we expect God to give us what we want (and not really need).
3. GOD PROVIDES BY GRACE, NOT MERIT
It is always by His grace, never by our merit. God cares and He will provide, not just materially, but emotionally and spiritually.
• That need may involve a trial, to strengthen our faith. It may come as a discipline, to set us back on the right path.
• Of course, that need could well be for health and wealth, or success and happiness, and God will bless us with these too.
• But whatever it is, God knows what is good for us and He will provide what we truly need.
I thank God for His provisions in my life. I am very happy and contented.
• I am grateful that He has given me all that I really need (not all that I want).
• People worried when I first say I wanted to serve the Lord full-time. Are you sure? They don’t pay well. Will you have enough? Sayings like “as poor as a church mouse” doesn’t help.
But I’m feeling very rich today. Enjoying the blessings of God. Feeling very grateful and satisfied, fulfilled and happy.
• God has blessed me with the 5 C’s that people crave for - Cash, Car, Credit card, Condo and Church (country club). I works for an organisation that will never collapse! I cannot be retrenched!
• But more so, God blessed me with many more things that money CANNOT buy – love in life, joy in ministry, peace in my heart, hope for the future...
• Frankly these are my real NEEDS! They are what the world cannot gives.
Trust Him. Walk by faith, climb up the mountain in obedience and full surrender, and you will see His provision on top of the mount.
• God foresees your need. He provides for it before you know it. He does this out of love and grace.
• 1 Cor 2:9-10 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him - 10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.”
