PASSOVER/EASTER STORIES: CITIES OF REFUGE FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Marlon Brando in the Old Testament
Another quaint little OT story that shows what Jesus has done — it’s sufficient.
Brace yourself! It is the detail which makes me a boring person that brings the Bible alive for me. There may be more here than the normal, well adjusted person would care to know. The best result for me would be that you check me out to prove I am wrong.
The Cities of Refuge are mentioned in Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 4 and Deuteronomy 19 . There is important detail there so, if you are unaware, it is to your advantage to find out more in these chapters. You will soon see why.
First some background on these cities, the purpose of which was to protect those who unintentionally caused the death of someone; manslaughter; from the Ga’al.
For anyone who hasn’t heard of the Ga’al, it is a Title that God first uses for Himself in Genesis 6:6 when He says, “Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem ( H1350 — gā’al) you with an outstretched arm and with great judgements.”
But Job, in what is regarded as the oldest book in the Tanakh — long predating the Torah, makes first mention in Job 19:25, “For I know that my Redeemer ( H1350 — gā’al) lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth” The first Prophecy about the coming of the Kingdom of Messiah.
But there is also a natural meaning for a Ga’al. Every family in the Israelite Culture had one. It was normally the eldest son. Like Marlon Brando in the God Father, he was the Patriarch. It was his job to avenge, revenge, ransom, to buy back a debt of any of his charges, and any number of other things. If you had a problem, you took it to the Ga’al and it would be sorted out. He had two main jobs, one of those being the Kinsman Redeemer (Boaz was a Kinsman Redeemer in the Book of Ruth.) The other being the enforcer, the Avenger of Blood, in every family. When a family member was killed it was the Avenger of Blood’s job to avenge that death regardless of the circumstances. There was no police force in early Israel. It was blood-for-blood. [If you do a word search on “avenger of blood” you will get the idea.]
But what if it was an accident?
As far as the Ga’al was concerned it was still blood-for-blood. But if the death occurred in ignorance, accidentally, the culprit could high-tail it to a City of Refuge, of which there were six in the Promised Land, and stay there in safety until the death of the High Priest in Jerusalem — at which time all must be forgiven. But if the culprit did not take advantage of the offer, he had to protect himself from the impending wrath.
It is written in Matthew 27:24–26, “When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.” The crowd (including Jews and Gentiles so no room for Antisemitism here) brought down a curse on themselves. Satan, our Adversary, is a legalist accusing the brethren before God day and night (Rev 12:10). He had humanity caught like a cat in the car headlights. But God elegantly circumvents this by having the Second Person of the Trinity declare from the Cross, in Luke 23:34, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” The Judge, identified in 2 Timothy 4:1, proclaims the death (His death) has been committed in ignorance — it is manslaughter deserving of the protection of the City of Refuge. Our opinion doesn’t matter. Neither does Satan’s, he cannot accuse against the proclamation of God. So we are legally entitled to flee to a refuge.
So what?
1. Who is our refuge? Hebrews 6:18 tells us it is Jesus.
2. We have an advocate in the Council of God, Hebrews 7:25.
3. Who is it? 1 John 2:1 tells us it is Jesus.
So, because Jesus is our Refuge, our Judge, and our Advocate, we have assurance that the penalties of the Law can’t touch us when we are in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the Lord and Saviour to all Humanity. There are only two classes of people — those who accept this and those who reject it.
- How long are we safe from the Law? Until the High Priest dies.
- Who is our Great High Priest? Hebrews 4:14 tells us it is Jesus.
- How long will our Great High Priest live? Hebrews 13:8 tells us it is forever.
Yet another demonstration of eternal security for those who are in Christ Jesus.
This connection between the OT and NT certainly grabs my attention.
The forgoing evidence has not been presented to convince any reader but to allow a personal decision to be made. There is much more to know about this subject. Perhaps you’ll pay another visit, sometime.
All Glory to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
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