Christ is Our Refuge
Joshua 20:1-6
INTRODUCTION: During the time of the exodus, God introduced “cities of refuge” for people who mistakenly murdered someone.
Anyone who killed someone by accident would run to one of these cities and plead his case before the elders of the city. They would then allow him to come in and give protection from the family of the person killed.
God was not sanctioning vigilante violence. But at this time there was no police force to catch criminals, so the families of slain people were forced to catch criminals and bring them to be judged.
Often the accused would never receive proper judgment because the mob would return death for death without a trial. The city of refuge was God’s way of providing mercy and justice for the guilty offender.
***Apart from the practical aspect of protection that these cities offered, they also serve as an important picture of the Person and Work of our Lord.
Hebrews 6:18 “…we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us”
To anyone familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures--especially a Hebrew--this designation of Christ as a “refuge” strikes a familiar chord.
It is a clear allusion paralleling these cities with the salvation that is offered in Christ. Though there are differences at points, the similarities between them are numerous.
What are some of the outstanding characteristics of these cities that make them similar to the work of Christ?
I. PROTECTION
a. The cities were God’s provision for the protection of the guilty offender
i. Because of his actions, the manslayer needed protection from the “avenger of blood” and this he received when he fled to a city of refuge
b. Likewise, the guilty sinner is protected from the judgment that his sins deserve by fleeing to Christ
i. As a sovereign God, He has the right to see that justice is served upon the guilty sinner for actions committed against Him
ii. But just as the manslayer had a place of refuge, so too the world has a shelter in the Lord Jesus Christ
c. Illustration: “Passover, City of Refuge, Christ=Protection” The blood that sheltered the children of Israel while the death angel passed through the land in Egypt pictures the same type of protection that every manslayer needed and that every believer in Christ enjoys
i. The blood on the doorposts protected the Israelites from the death angel
ii. The city of refuge protected from the “avenger of blood”
iii. Christ protects from the penalty of sin, which is Hell
1. God will judge all who do not accept Christ and repent of their sins, because they are guilty
2. There are no free passes to heaven going to be given out at judgment.
3. Christ was clear – without Him we lack the protection from the punishment to come
II. PERCEPTION
a. The concept of the cities of refuge did not originate with Moses or Joshua, but was provided by God.
i. It was not something they conceived, but rather in the heart and mind of God, who instructed them to establish these cities
ii. Often we read something in the Bible and think it was a good idea of a clever person – but the Bible was written under the inspiration of the Spirit
iii. It is God’s perception, not ours
b. Similarly, salvation by grace alone through Christ is not man’s idea, but God’s
i. Most man-made religions focus on good works, not grace
ii. Illustration: “Grace: Where will it lead?” When John Calvin was in Paris, he urged a friend to preach a sermon on Christ as our only mediator. This was a highly controversial and provocative move, as the sermon was preached on All Saints Day, a day specifically earmarked to celebrate the role of saints. In his sermon Calvin’s friend said, "Let us plead to Christ who has great mercy and who is the only Mediator with God, that His Spirit may enlighten our hearts that all our being and striving might praise him, feel him, and bow before him in awe, so that the Divine Redeemer may fill our hearts and immerse them in his grace . . ." Never had the university heard anything like it from this place. Two Franciscans were seen leaving the church. They had been disturbing the audience with remarks of disapproval for the last half hour. "Grace, pardon of God, Holy Spirit," they said; "that’s all this speech is filled with. Nothing about indulgences, good works - where will it lead to?"
iii. REMEMBER: Men need something to hold onto– when God has no hold on them
iv. Too often they hold onto something like good works
c. Salvation by grace through faith is God’s unique plan conceived in love from His heart and mind from “the foundations of the world”, providing salvation for the helpless sinner
i. It is not something Bible scholars conceived
ii. It was conceived and implemented by God
III. PROXIMITY
a. These cities were the only means of safety and were nearby, well-marked, and accessible to all.
i. They were strategically located so that the person in need was never far away
ii. The roads leading to these cities were kept clear and available
iii. They were in elevated positions so that they could be seen from far away
b. The Apostle Paul reminded the Athenians on Mars Hill that Christ is “not far from any one of us” (Acts 17:27)
i. Like these elevated cities, He is “highly visible” in the sense that the salvation that the grace of God brings “hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11)
ii. And once the step of faith has been taken toward Christ, God provides a clear road that brings the guilty sinner to the place of refuge.
c. Also, No other place or city offered the same protection as these.
i. To go to any other city was both useless and foolish.
ii. Christ is the sinner’s only means of refuge
iii. Acts 4:12 reminds us that “there is none other Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.”
iv. He made it clear Himself when He said: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the father, but by Me” (Jn. 14:6)
v. To seek refuge in any other than Christ is both useless and foolish
IV. PROVISION
a. The fact that these cities were for the use of both Israel and the sojourner reminds us that salvation is available to all
i. Christ offers salvation to all who believe on Him
ii. Regardless of who we are – race, sex or background
iii. Galatians 3:28 “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians--you are one in Christ Jesus.”
b. Anyone who needed refuge was welcomed in these cities, so anyone who is in need of forgiveness is welcomes by Christ
i. No one is too lost to be found
ii. No one is too bad to be forgiven
iii. Christ offers Himself as provision for all who will take the road of faith
V. PRIORITY
a. The manslayer was instructed to flee to one of these cities immediately to escape vengeance from the “avenger of blood.”
i. The sinner likewise is exhorted to flee to Christ before it is eternally too late, lest he die in his sins
ii. “Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation...” (2 Cor. 6:2)
b. The manslayer was urged not to linger outside the city gates, lest the “avenger of blood” find him and execute judgment
i. Illustration: “Just Outside the walls” This is illustrated in the life of Abner who had accidentally killed Joab’s brother Asahel (2 Sam. 2:23-4). David lamented that Abner “Died as a fool dies” (2 Sam 3:33), mourning Abner’s death at the hand of Joab who killed him just outside the gates of the refuge city of Hebron.
ii. How those who foolishly put off trusting Christ, like Abner are in jeopardy of dying “as a fool dies” outside God’s appointed place of refuge.
CONCLUSION: How many of us tonight are living outside the walls?
Illustration: “Close doesn’t matter” Imagine there were three people who tried to jump from one cliff to another, with a separation of ten feet and a 1,000 foot drop. The first made it five feet, but missed. The second made it eight feet, but missed also. The third made is a miraculous 9 ¾ feet, but still missed. Though they all performed at different levels, they all received the same fate.
REMEMBER: Being close to the city doesn’t count; we must be in the city.
Only in the city (which is Christ) are we protected from the judgment to come.
And judgment is coming – God has appointed a day when He will judge the world in righteousness
The second death…the lake of fire…Hell…damnation…
These are all the penalties for not seeking the only refuge, which is in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 91:2 “This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him”
Is Christ your refuge tonight?
[Heads bowed, eyes closed]
Christ is our provision from God to save us from our greatest enemy: death.
Christ conquered death and because of that He now offers Himself as our refuge from death.
He wants us to run to Him for protection from the judgment to come, because He alone is salvation.
Death is chasing every one of us – don’t be outside the city gates when it finds you.
[Let us pray]
