Then the LORD said to Joshua: “Tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed you through Moses, so that anyone who kills a person accidentally and unintentionally may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood. Joshua 20:1-3

Here is the continuation of the last post exploring the parallels between the “Cities of Refuge” in the Old Testament and Jesus, our refuge, today.

4. The cities of refuge were stocked with food and other necessities, and likewise, the Lord provides us with everything we need.

These cities were fully stocked and fully prepared to take care of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those who ran to them. Surely the person who ran to these cities for refuge would be hungry and thirsty, they would be frantic and scared, and surely they would be in need of spiritual counsel and prayer. And these cities were fully prepared to handle any need that these people had.

In the same way that these cities were stocked and prepared to meet the needs of those seeking refuge, so too is the Lord, our refuge.  Francis Schaeffer says: Jesus’ death in space-time history is completely adequate to meet our need for refuge from true moral guilt which we have.  It is final because of who He is. We are safe and free from the penalty and power of death in Christ.

And not only is He able to meet our spiritual need for a Savior, but He also is able to take care of our physical, mental, and emotional needs as well. Philippians 4:19  And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

God owns it all, He controls it all, and He is ready and willing to provide for His children everything they need through Christ. In Matthew 7:11, Jesus says: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! The cities of refuge had everything desperate people needed, and so too does our Lord.  He is able and willing to give us everything we need.

5. If a person did not flee to the cities of refuge, there was no help for him.  Likewise, if we do not run to the Lord, there is no help for us.

Run to the Lord and be safe.  Run to anything else.  Put your trust in anything or anyone else for refuge, and you will not be safe. This is really stating the obvious, but we really need to be reminded of this again and again.

If you were in desperate need of help and protection back then, and you saw a sign that said “REFUGE,” it would only make sense to run as fast as you can to the city of refuge. The signs are everywhere for us today.  They say “REFUGE,” and they’re all pointed to the Lord.