As we
enter a town in Australia, we are greeted by a sign that declare: “We
welcome all who are seeking refuge and asylum.” This kind of welcome seems to
resonate with the Old Testament concept of the cities of refuge. In the Old
Testament era, cities of refuge (Num. 35:6) were established to be a safe haven
for people who had accidentally killed someone and were needing protection. God
had the people establish such cities to provide that refuge.
This
concept, however, was not intended to be simply a practice for ancient Israel.
More than that, cities of refuge reflected the heart of God for all people. He
Himself longs to be our safe haven and our city of refuge in the failures,
heartaches, and losses of life. We read in Psalm 59:16-17, “I will sing of Your
power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been
my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will
sing praises; for God is my defense, my God of mercy.”
For the hurting heart of every generation, our “city of refuge” is not a place. Our city of refuge is a Person—the God who loves us with an everlasting love. May we find our refuge and rest in Him.
Refuge can be found in the Rock of Ages. (RBC)
