* The Cities of Refuge *
"Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge." (Numbers 35:14)
When the Israelites entered the promised land, God told Joshua to provide six "cities of refuge" into which those who had slain someone could flee for refuge until a trial could come up with the facts and render a proper verdict.
As such, these cities are a type of Christ, through whom-
"God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged." (Hebrews 6:18)
The names of the six cities are given in Joshua 20:7-8 as Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.
" So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh." (Joshua 20:7-8)
The meanings of these names seem planned especially to foreshadow this spiritual application.
Kedesh means "holy place," and Christ in the New Jerusalem is the ultimate refuge-
"I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Revelation 21:22)
Shechem means "strong shoulder," which answers to the "strong consolation" we have in Christ when we flee to Him for refuge.
Hebron means "fellowship," and we who have come to Christ have been called to fellowship-
"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9)
Bezer means "strong hiding place." The Scripture assures the believer that "your life is hidden with Christ in God-
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)
Ramoth means "high place," and when we are hidden in Christ, God also has
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6)
Finally, Golan apparently means "enclosure for captives," and this would speak of our being set free from sin and death to become captive to Christ.
"This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." (Ephesians 4:8)
Thus the cities are appropriately named, both for their immediate purpose, and as a picture of Christ as the Savior of sinners.
Passages of Scripture are from the New International Version Bible (NIV).........................
"Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge." (Numbers 35:14)
When the Israelites entered the promised land, God told Joshua to provide six "cities of refuge" into which those who had slain someone could flee for refuge until a trial could come up with the facts and render a proper verdict.
As such, these cities are a type of Christ, through whom-
"God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged." (Hebrews 6:18)
The names of the six cities are given in Joshua 20:7-8 as Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.
" So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. East of the Jordan (on the other side from Jericho) they designated Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau in the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead in the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan in the tribe of Manasseh." (Joshua 20:7-8)
The meanings of these names seem planned especially to foreshadow this spiritual application.
Kedesh means "holy place," and Christ in the New Jerusalem is the ultimate refuge-
"I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Revelation 21:22)
Shechem means "strong shoulder," which answers to the "strong consolation" we have in Christ when we flee to Him for refuge.
Hebron means "fellowship," and we who have come to Christ have been called to fellowship-
"God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9)
Bezer means "strong hiding place." The Scripture assures the believer that "your life is hidden with Christ in God-
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)
Ramoth means "high place," and when we are hidden in Christ, God also has
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus," (Ephesians 2:6)
Finally, Golan apparently means "enclosure for captives," and this would speak of our being set free from sin and death to become captive to Christ.
"This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people." (Ephesians 4:8)
Thus the cities are appropriately named, both for their immediate purpose, and as a picture of Christ as the Savior of sinners.
Passages of Scripture are from the New International Version Bible (NIV).........................
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