The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. (Proverbs 18:10)

The Lord is our refuge. The Lord is our rescuer. No matter what we’ve done. No matter if we’ve done it multiple times. No matter what we face. God is our refuge and strength. He’s our ever-present help in time of trouble.

In Joshua 20, we get a clear picture of the great lengths that the Lord goes to be our refuge. The Lord instructed Israel to establish “Cities of Refuge” as they settled the Promised Land. These were six cities strategically located throughout Canaan that people could go to if they needed protection and shelter.  Mainly, these cities were places of refuge for people who accidentally killed someone. If someone accidentally killed another person while hunting or while working the land, they could run to one of these six cities of refuge and be protected from the revenge of a family member of the one who was killed.

Back then, if someone killed someone else, justice was not carried out by the government; it was carried out by family members of the one who was killed. Therefore, in order to escape the revenge of a family member for an accidental killing, people would literally run to one of these cities of refuge and escape being killed themselves.  The Lord had Israel establish these cities not just for their own good, but also to offer them and us a beautiful picture of who the Lord is for us: our refuge, our rescuer, our redeemer.

In the coming days, I’ll show you a few of the wonderful parallels between the “Cities of Refuge” back then and the refuge the Lord provides for us today.  Here’s the first parallel…

1. The cities were easy to get to, and so too is the Lord.

In Joshua 20:7-8, we get a description of where these cities of refuge were located. Each city was strategically located throughout the Promised Land and was never further than a 1-2 day journey away from any location in the land.  There was a law back then saying that the roads leading to these cities had to be repaired each spring after the rains and bad weather of winter had passed.  These roads were populated with many bridges so that the one running for refuge didn’t have to run down and back up ravines.  And at every crossroad, there were large signs strategically placed that pointed to the nearest city of refuge.  The signs said “REFUGE” in huge letters.

The people of Israel made it as easy as possible for those in need of refuge to find the refuge they needed. In the same way, the Lord has made it as easy as possible for those in need of refuge to get to Him today.

Are you in need of refuge?  Are you in need of help?  The road to the Lord – our strong tower, our city of refuge – is smooth and in great shape!  There are bridges everywhere, and we don’t have to worry about crossing over huge ravines to get to Him.  In Matthew 11:28, the Lord says, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.