A town of Refuge

The vision we even have for our church using the web Gold Coast, Australia will it be will be like a city of refuge.

You can read all about cities of refuge the Old Testament, in this kind of passages as Josh. 20: 1-9; Exs. 21: 13; Num. thirty five: 6-34 and Deut. nineteen: 1-13. They were set up for the purpose of protecting an accidental manslayer rrn the course of avenger of blood. In Israelite society there is no police force to research crimes. It was the moral task for the family member who was closest to the victim and investigate and, if necessary, avenge the murder. He was called the avenger of blood. But simply this person's own sentimental subjectivity would cloud his / her judgment. He might not want in to the trouble to figure out if it was an accident al killing perhaps premeditated murder. And in order accidental killer was a marked man.

God ordained six cities of refuge to which the accidental manslayer is going to flee. Fearful, weary along with a faint, when he stumbled on the entrance of community he would run included with, because it was open for people just like her. The moment he crossed the doorway of the city he / she was safe. He remained there ahead of the death of the high priest while he could safely return back in his inheritance. If he left which sometimes city he forfeited legal protection so the avenger of blood was allowed kill him.

The cities of refuge were a picture of Christ, our Sanctuary.

"I will say through LORD, 'He is all my refuge and my fort; My God, in Him I'm going to trust" (Psa. 91: 2).

"For you'll be a shelter for my needs, a strong tower from enemy. I will abide in their own homes tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of The particular wings" Ps. 61: 3.

"The name of a typical LORD is a foul tower; the righteous trigger it and are safe" (Prov. eighteen: 10).

The noun "refuge", Heb. machseh, meaning a shelter, protection, fortress, occurs 20 times both in Old Testament, mostly both in Psalms. Heb. 6: 18 speaks of those who have fled to Jesus for refuge.

I have a see for a church which may be a city of haven, a place of gracefulness, where anyone may within and know they will see shelter. They can be sure these are safe and free from harm. Sadly, churches which should provide refuge and security are additionally places where people may well spiritually abused. The church I envision rrs really a safe-zone - where rrndividuals are protected against condemnation, utilize and domination; a place where we understand that our role does not work properly to fix people particularly love them; a place where we can not knowingly hurt another subject; and a place that the prodigals feel safe to come back.

In the Old Testament the cities of refuge protected only individuals that were innocent of on purpose murder. Some sins found no mercy inside the Law. This is types of under grace. "By Him everyone which will believes is justified at all all things from to not be justified for your law of Moses" (Acts 13: 39). Jesus saves it's not necessarily uttermost. Like the cities of refuge an argument of grace is where one is no longer defined making use of their past, but by the unsurpassable worth God your student loans to them. People are seen as a a righteousness-consciousness; an overwhelming sense because of unconditional love and removal of God.

More additional I hear of Christians throwing during the towel because they have had and tried and tried even though they just can't keep off the rules. Like the Pharisees towards old the Church facets raised the bar to set unattainable heights telling people what they need to be doing, but not showing these to do it. I envision a celebration where there is closets for failure; a place where that counts is faith quick by love; a place where people hear great God is, not how bad they are simply. I want a place where we you will need to go out on some type of limb and lose our reputation for a particular all-inclusiveness of those u . s citizens welcome.

The cities of refuge were locations compassion. This is further borne out by the fact that:

Everybody was welcome during these cities. Strangers who were permanent residents because of land, as well when we are Jews.

They were in order to reach.

*God wanted people to find them easily. They were equally spaced around the world and were available to every Israelite. Clear instructions were as they were to be "in the centre of the land" (Deut. nineteen: 2, 3), not in remote corners which might had been difficult to achieve. Wherever there was necessity of shelter there was one placed within reach. It was an average day's run to go to the nearest city a good refuge.

*In Deut. nineteen: 3, God commanded that an nation build highways, besides footpaths, to the towns and cities of refuge. Ancient Jewish sources beyond your Bible give us only detail about how important we need to maintain these highways in order to nobody was ever hindered when you get to the cities. The magistrates of there isn't any city were responsible to survey the direction to their city, making optimistic the road was free of all debris and quickly passable. Every Spring, the actual heavy winter rains, work crews came out to remove every stumbling-block through the road, such as large rocks and fallen oaks. Any holes in discover would be filled. Any high places may well be leveled, so that highway surface would be smooth and easy to run on. There was to be absolutely no obstacle in the way that would hinder anyone fleeing for an city of refuge.

*Bridges were to be built across every ravine generally if highways came to, hence the person running for refuge don't need to waste time climbing to the bottom of the ravine and then up sleep issues.

*Directions had to appear to be clear. At every crossroads or intersection in a very highways, there were to ensure that big, bold signs pointing exactly how with the word Miklac (REFUGE) numerous large letters. Signposts were carefully preserved. When the fugitive stumbled on the cross-roads, he did not hesitate for a moment. Seeing that word, 'refuge', he maintained running with relentless persistence until he reached a topic of safety.

*Runners, knowing the law of God, were stationed to guide fugitives there. There was no need for anyone to be unsure of growing there.

They were known. Most were built moreover mountains. Most of past the cities of ancient Israel were being built of white limestone. In case the sun hit these urban areas they gleamed. Even in the night, under the light within moon, they would still be visible. They were easily seen, even from many far.

The gates were not absolutely closed. No matter what the day or night, the gates globally city of refuge were never closed plus they were never to even be locked. If someone had execute thirty or forty miles to go to the city, and they'll likely couldn't get in (e. deborah., in the middle of the identical night) they could get cut down by the avenger of blood.

See how determined God was against this innocent manslayer to get through the safe haven of an urban area of refuge!! And all below is a picture of God's care and compassion for a needy, the sinner so the vulnerable. It is the role of the Church so that Jesus Christ, our Sanctuary, is equally as accessible to all.

*As those cities were set on a hill so God said, "You are a town set on a hl. "

*As the gates were opened at all time. People should be able to find him anyplace, anytime. "... Him who comes to me I can't cast out" (Jn. 6: 37).

*As the roads were cleared, making it easy for people to go to the cities, so we must make sure nothing we do or say encumbers just how the for people finding Christ. See Rom. 10: 6-8. "O silly Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you must not obey the very simple fact, before whose eyes The lord Christ was clearly described [plainly set forth] among you and be accepted as crucified? " (Gal. 3: 1).

*As the roads were clearly signposted, so our cry ought to be "Refuge! Refuge! " This is just about the major messages that we work body of Christ require communicate.

*As the runners were strategically stationed to bring people to the cities so i'm going to be positioned to bring people to Christ.

.