Daily Devotional · Joshua 20:1–6
A Place to Run
Reflection
Among the many allocations of land in Joshua, one instruction stands out as uniquely pastoral: God commanded six cities of refuge to be established — three on each side of the Jordan. Any person who accidentally killed someone could flee to one of these cities before the "avenger of blood" (a relative of the victim) could reach them. At the city gate, they would state their case. The elders would receive them and give them a place to live. They were safe within the city until they could stand trial before the assembly. If the killing was accidental — not premeditated, not out of malice — they were protected. These cities were distributed intentionally across the land so no one would be far from one. The road to them was to be kept clear. Access to refuge was not to be obstructed. Theologically, the cities of refuge are a picture of divine mercy within a system of justice. God did not abolish accountability — He provided a way of protection until proper judgment could occur. Not everyone who is pursued is guilty of malice. The New Testament repeatedly calls believers to take refuge in God, to flee to Christ as to a city of refuge (Hebrews 6:18 — "we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us"). He is the place where the guilty can stand before proper judgment and find that a substitute has already paid.
Background
The six cities of refuge were strategically distributed — Kedesh in the north, Shechem in the center, Hebron in the south on the western side; Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan on the eastern side. Ancient rabbinic teaching held that the roads to these cities were maintained and signposted so that anyone fleeing could find them without confusion.
Truth
God built mercy into the justice system. He knows the difference between malice and mistake, between intentional evil and tragic accident. His character is not only holy judgment — it is also running toward the one who needs refuge before they are destroyed.
Application
Are you fleeing something — guilt, failure, accusation? Run to Christ as your city of refuge today. Name the thing you are fleeing. Then declare: in Him, I am safe until the Judge speaks — and the Judge has already spoken the verdict: forgiven.