Today’s meditation is based on Joshua 20:1-2,“Then the LORD told Joshua to say to the people of Israel, "Choose the cities of refuge that I had Moses tell you about.” (GNB)
This commandment that God had given to Moses was executed only after the people of Israel took possession of the Promised Land. The Lord reminded Joshua to allot these cities of refuge for anyone who had accidentally killed someone to take asylum in. Six cities were to be assigned for this purpose. We already studied the various reasons why these cities of refuge were allocated.
We may wonder as to why only six cities were chosen when all through the bible we see the number seven is a number that signified wholeness. Though these cities were those which gave refuge, they could only save a person from death for a few years. Nonetheless, they were looking forward to the coming of Jesus, who is the eternal city of refuge, and all those cities of refuge were onlyforeshadows to that great event.
What was most amazing about this was the fact that in order to restore the relationship that was severed between a Holy God and sinful man, there were many events that were foreshadows for the same recorded in the Old Testament.
• The ark that Noah built was one, for only those who believed and entered the ark were kept safe.
• So also, when the people of Israel were to be delivered from their bondage in Egypt, on a specified day, they were to slay a lamb, and smear the blood of the same on the door post. When the angel of death passed by, he passed over every house that had the blood of the lamb smeared on it so that the people in that could would escape death of the firstborn. This too was a symbol of Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God who was to be crucified on the cross on our behalf.
• As the people of Israel wandered through the wilderness they had to set up a tabernacle. The size, color, dimensions of this tabernacle was specified by God Himself. If we observe the details of the tabernacle, we realize that this too was a foreshadow for the coming of Jesus.
If only we can comprehend this amazing plan of salvation that God has made available to us through Jesus, so that we can be reconciled back to God, it would thrill our hearts, and we will certainly never take it for granted.
As I read the names of these six cities of refuge there too I could see that they had significance to the coming of Jesus.
We read in Joshua 20:7-8,“So, on the west side of the Jordan they set aside Kedesh in Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Hebron, in the hill country of Judah. East of the Jordan, on the desert plateau east of Jericho, they chose Bezer in the territory of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the territory of Manasseh.” (GNB)
The reason why there is so much detail mentioned even with regards to the names of these cities, is to help us understand that this was historical, and not just a made-up story. We will look at the name Kedesh which means ‘holy’ or ‘sacred place.’
Jesus was sinless
We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21,“Christ was without sin, but for our sake God made him share our sin in order that in union with him we might share the righteousness of God.” (GNB)
Sinless Jesus had the sins of the whole world placed on Him, so that we could receive the righteousness of God. Jesus was sinless at birth, he lived a sinless life, and though He died, He rose again on the third day. The wages of sin is death, but since Jesus was sinless, and took our sins on Himself, death had no hold over Him.
We read in Acts 2:24,“...it was impossible that death should hold him prisoner.” (GNB)
When we go into Jesus who is our city of refuge, we are made righteous, and escape eternal death. To be made righteous means that we stand before God without fault having been clothed with a righteousness which we have received through Jesus. Since Jesus was sinless, He rose from the dead. Many great men were born on the earth, and all of them have a birth day and death day which the world commemorates. Only Jesus has a birth day, a death day and a day of resurrection. Jesus is alive and He is with us every day. All other great men have their tombstones which are still unmoved, but Jesus rose from the dead, and from his birth right until His death Jesus led a sinless life.
Those who witnessed that Jesus was sinless
1. The angel of the Lord
We read in Luke 1:35,“The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you. For this reason the holy child will be called the Son of God.” (GNB)
Jesus was born without sin as one who was conceived of the Holy Spirit of God. The angel told Mary that the son who is born to her will be a holy child. There is no one who can compare with Jesus because everyone else born into this world was born in sin.
2. John the Baptist
This was the testimony of John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus.
We read in John 1:29,“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (ISV)
John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world.
Even today there are many who want their sins to be forgiven. The bible tells us that Jesus came into this world, live a sinless life, bore our sins on Himself and died on the cross of Calvary. Anyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins atoned for, and they can be freed from the bondage to sin.
3. Evil spirits
We read in Mark 1:23-24,“And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God."” (ESV)
When a man with an unclean spirit met Jesus in the synagogue, the evil spirit inside of him declared that Jesus was indeed the Holy One of God. Even the devil knew that Jesus was the sinless Son of God.
If we can believe on Jesus who is the city of refuge for us we too will be saved, and can be clothed with His righteousness. There is nothing we need to do or no payment that we have to make to receive this gift of salvation. Wherever you are, you can call on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. People are undertaking pilgrimages, fasting, hurting their bodies to the point of shedding flood hoping that their sins will be removed from them. Let me encourage you that none of these methods will be able to have your sins removed except through your faith in the Lord Jesus.
4. A learned Pharisee
We read about a man named Nicodemus, who was a learned man, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish counsel.
This was what Nicodemus said to Jesus in John 3:2,“He came to Jesus at night and told him, "Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, because no one can perform these signs that you are doing unless God is with him."” (ISV)
As Nicodemus watched the ministry and heard the teachings of Jesus, he knew that he was different. There was authority in Jesus’ teachings, and wherever He went there were signs and wonders being performed. Nicodemus declared that Jesus was from God, and that He was holy based on what he heard and saw of Jesus. There were many teachers before and after Jesus who taught one thing, and acted contrary to their teaching. Jesus however, taught and did the same thing which made His teaching authoritative.
You can be a very learned person and know all the scriptures in the world, but you cannot be saved from your sins except through Jesus.
5. A disciple of Jesus
For three and a half years Jesus ministered on earth there were twelve disciples who were chosen by Him to be with Him for all that time. One of them was Judas Iscariot. Judas watched all that Jesus did closely, but at some point though Judas was physically close to Jesus, his heart went after money and far from Jesus. Judas Iscariot took thirty pieces of silver and betrayed Jesus. Jesus was arrested and when the verdict was given that Jesus should be crucified, Judas took the money and threw it in the presence of those from whom he had taken it and these were his words as recorded in Matthew 27:4,saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." (ESV)
This was the testimony of Judas Iscariot who had walked and lived closely with Jesus, for he could testify for certain that Jesus was innocent and without fault.
Generally we may be impressed by those who are good speakers when they are on stage. However, when we get to know them closely and stay with them, we will get to know their weakness. This is true of anyone because all men have faults.
6. A Roman Governor
As Jesus stood before Pilate who was the Roman Governor, he knew that Jesus was brought to him because of jealousy. The ones who wanted Jesus to be crucified were the religious leaders, the scribes and the Pharisees.
We can learn a lot and show that we are big, but if we have jealousy hidden inside it will make us like beasts.
After Pilate had questioned Jesus these were his words as recorded in Luke 23:4,“So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, "I find no basis for an accusation against this man."” (LEB)
Pilate declared to the High Priest, and all the religious leaders gathered there that he could find no fault in Jesus. Pilate was an iron-fisted ruler, who ruled in a time when there was much rebellion. However, Pilate Himself declared that he found no basis for accusation against Jesus.
7. A Roman Centurion
We read in Mark 15:39,“When the centurion who stood facing Jesus saw how he had cried out and breathed his last, he said, "This man certainly was the Son of God!"” (ISV)
As Jesus hung on the cross, and breathed His last, a centurion who stood beside the cross, a Roman by citizenship, and one who had probably put many to death, exclaimed that Jesus was truly the Son of God.
The sinless Jesus took the sins of the whole world on Himself. He is our eternal refuge, and one who alone can bring us redemption from our sins. Those who believe on Jesus receive an unexplainable strength that helps them lead a holy life.
An interesting aspect about the cities of refuge
We read in Numbers 35:28,“For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession.” (ESV)
Those who took refuge in the cities of refuge were those who by accident killed someone else. They were required to remain in these cities for safety. However, when the High Priest in that nation died, all these people who were in the cities of refuge could get back to their home towns without any fear of being harmed.
If you are wondering what is the connection between this and the Lord Jesus let me explain this to you.
We read in Hebrews 9:11-12,“But Christ being come high priest of the good things to come, by the better and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, (that is, not of this creation,) nor by blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, has entered in once for all into the holy of holies, having found an eternal redemption.” (Darby)
Jesus Christ is our Chief High Priest who through His death, and by shedding His own blood, bridged the huge gap that existed between God and men. Only because the blood of Jesus was shed on our behalf we have eternal salvation.
If you are one who has not yet believed in the Lord Jesus, and found security in this city of refuge, or if you have been one who has experienced this salvation, but have walked away from the Lord Jesus and the security He gives and are surrounded by countless troubles, you can pray to the Lord Jesus and He can change everything for you. Just imagine a man who was running for his life to the city of refuge, only after he entered into that city would he be safe.
Let me remind us of this verse from 2Corinthians 5:17,“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (ESV)
Anyone who enters into this relationship with Jesus who is our city of refuge can lead a victorious life. Jesus lived on the earth, underwent all kinds of trials and temptations just like we do, conquered Satan, overcame death, and is alive and interceding for us. Instead of running to people for prayer, go to Jesus, and seek Him alone. When you make Jesus your city of refuge, and put your trust in Him, he will give you freedom from sin, and help you to walk in holiness.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins
