In this chapter we are reminded that the Levites received no inheritance in the Promised Land, for the Lord was their inheritance. Instead they got “land on loan” from the other tribes, a total of 48 cities. 42 of these cities were normal cities, but 6 played the special role of being “cities of refuge”. These were places where people who had accidentally killed someone could seek refuge from those who would want to avenge them, a place of mercy where they were protected from vengeance.
This creates a unique picture for us, the church. We are called “a holy priesthood” in the New Testament, and like the Levites our inheritance is the LORD. Anything we have in this world is really “on loan” from Him, we are nothing more than stewards taking care of what has been entrusted to us. We shouldn’t hold on to anything in this world tightly, instead we should be storing up our treasure in heaven.
As the church our focus should be on people not possessions. This was true of the Levites. They were to be focused on the people, representing God to them, and them to God. In the same manner we should be showing Jesus to the lost around us. We should be treating them the way Jesus would treat them, showing them grace and mercy. The cities of refuge provided a place of rest from the judgment that pursued an individual. In the same way we should be a refuge that people can come to find the grace and mercy of God, a place where they can learn of the forgiveness of sin, and lose their burden of guilt. Ask your self this question today: Is my life a city of refuge, providing grace and mercy? Or, am I an exactor of judgment, making sure people pay for what they have done? We have been shown great mercy, Jesus is our city of refuge… let’s show that same mercy!
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