109-Escape City Our Refuge (Part One)#
109-Escape City Our Refuge (Part One)
(JP Text Group - Min Organized)
Joshua Chapter 20: Verses 1-6
1 The Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: 2 "Command the Israelites, saying: You shall set up cities of refuge for yourselves, as I instructed you through Moses. 3 That the manslayer who kills any person unintentionally may flee there; these cities shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 And the manslayer shall flee to one of those cities, and stand at the entrance of the city gate, and declare his case in the hearing of the elders of that city; they shall take him into the city, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, having neither hatred nor malice toward him. 6 And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest who was in office at that time; then the manslayer may return to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled."
Let us pray together first.
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise you. We come once again to seek Jesus Christ, for you are our refuge, our escape city. No matter how dangerous things may be outside, in Jesus Christ, we find rest.
A new week has begun. I receive your strength, I receive your rest. You have prepared everything. Here, we bring our questions and burdens to seek you, and you will renew our strength, for you are our fortress, our high tower, our refuge. I thank you for this. May the Holy Spirit also lead every brother and sister, so that we may gain something here, be filled with the Holy Spirit. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, before we begin, let me ask you, what is a refuge in your impression? A place to escape to, and what else? A place of peace. Thank God, you are absolutely right. A refuge is a place we go to in times of difficulty. After the shipwreck incident a few days ago, there were many small houses nearby; that place is a refuge. Or during wartime, when enemy planes come, people hide in bomb shelters; that is a refuge.
In short, when we encounter danger and difficulties and do not know how to resolve them, we need a place where we can find rest; that is our refuge. Amen! It is indeed rare to find such a refuge in the world. Every country has laws, and the laws of Israel are very unique. Today, I want to share this matter with you, as the Bible is divided into the Old and New Testaments. Many contents in the Old Testament are types and shadows of past events, and in the New Testament, these types become real. The Old Testament foreshadows many things. For example, Joseph in Genesis is a type of our Lord Jesus.
In the wilderness, when the Israelites had no water to drink and encountered bitter water, Moses put a tree in the water, and the water became sweet. That tree symbolizes our Jesus Christ. Therefore, there are many types in the Old Testament that point to our Jesus Christ, and in the New Testament, we see the fulfillment. We need to break down the Old Testament scriptures, and in the New Testament era, we need to understand God's love more. God's power is seen through the Old Testament, where God gives you a certain blessing. In the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites such a law, which He personally spoke to Moses and also to Joshua, saying, "You shall set up cities of refuge for yourselves, as I instructed you through Moses, so that those who unintentionally kill may flee there," which is a city to escape from the avenger of blood. The Hebrew word for "city of refuge" means a place that accepts fugitives, also called a city of asylum, which is a refuge.
The matter of cities of refuge is also rare worldwide. In the land promised by God, God established cities of refuge with special significance. Were these cities of refuge prepared specifically for the Israelites? No, God told the Israelites: even among you, if a foreigner unintentionally harms someone, they can also flee there.
For example, if a person is chopping wood with an axe, and the axe head flies off and accidentally kills another person, that is called unintentional manslaughter. After the person dies, their family will seek revenge. Where can the person flee to escape the avenger? They can only flee to the city of refuge. The city of refuge is not only prepared for the Israelites but also for foreigners.
The city of refuge symbolizes the salvation of Jesus Christ. It can also be said that the city of refuge represents Jesus Christ. Whether Jew or Gentile, as long as one enters the city of refuge, the unintentional manslayer can escape the avenger's harm. When you have suffered many grievances, you need to return to the city of refuge, which is to return to Jesus Christ, for He can comfort you. Amen!
Whether Jew or Gentile, as long as one is willing to be in Christ, Christ is our refuge. Amen! God established the city of refuge to manifest God's grace. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
From the city of refuge, we can see God's righteousness, mercy, and love. If someone unintentionally kills another, they must bear the consequences. Many dramas and historical accounts depict situations where one generation unintentionally kills another, and their children seek revenge, leading to a cycle of violence. This cycle of hatred cannot be ended.
But in Israel, God established cities of refuge to provide justice for those who unintentionally kill. What should they do? Under the law, these people need protection because the law is very harsh. The laws of the Jews are very strict. I also want to advise those who seek to please God through the law, because the law is not as simple as imagined. Do you know what God says in the law given to Israel?
For example, if a person blinds another person's eye, how will the judge judge? That's right, "an eye for an eye." It is not just about paying money. If someone blinds another person's eye, regardless of the reason, that person must have their eye blinded as well. Is the law terrifying?
With God, money cannot solve all problems, because God's righteousness is like this. In the New Testament, Jesus also taught that if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. Isn't this what Jesus personally taught? If that is the case, when we get to heaven, what will be left? Just our mouths to thank God! Everything else will be cut off.
Jesus is simply telling us that the law is like this. After breaking the law, one must face severe punishment. Even unintentional manslaughter must bear the consequences. Under the law, it is "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, a burn for a burn." If you burn someone with something, they can burn you back. Those who unintentionally kill, those who commit unintentional sins, say, "Lord, what should we do? We are unintentional; should we die?"
God says, "I have set up a city of refuge for you." You can flee to the city of refuge. When you flee to the city of refuge, you escape the avenger's pursuit. We share this matter to tell brothers and sisters that before God, whether believers or non-believers, very few people intentionally commit sins. Amen!
Especially Christians do not intentionally sin; most of the time, they unknowingly fall into the devil's trap. For example, seeing their husband makes them angry, seeing their children makes them angry, seeing their mother-in-law makes them angry, and after getting angry, they scold their family. The next day, they regret it. This proves that it was not a heartfelt sin; they unintentionally hurt others. How does God deal with this?
God says: You need to come to Jesus Christ to solve this problem. Amen! If we do not resolve it, if we do not accept Jesus, we will face punishment. Some say, "That's not right! You believers always say I am a sinner. I don't feel like a sinner; I haven't violated the laws of the country." That's right; you are a good citizen and have not violated the laws of the country. It is not because you commit sins that you become a sinner; it is because Adam sinned that you became a sinner. Isn't that unfair? It seems quite unfair that I was born a sinner because Adam sinned. We feel it is unfair.
God also says it seems unfair. But I have prepared a city of refuge for you, which is Jesus Christ. I have given my Son to you, allowing Him to die for your sins on the cross. If you are willing to accept Jesus, you will be justified and receive eternal life. Brothers and sisters, it seems unfair too; God says, "From now on, I will not look at your actions, nor at your efforts. Because of Jesus Christ, I will freely bless you. You can receive righteousness, holiness, and all blessings through Jesus Christ. What you receive is God's grace freely given." Amen! It seems unfair that through Jesus, you can receive all of God's blessings. Thank the Lord; Jesus is our city of refuge, our shelter.
Returning to the scripture we just read, if an unintentional person accidentally kills someone, they can flee to that city of refuge to escape the avenger. This is the function of the city of refuge. When we accept Jesus, it is equivalent to entering the city of refuge. Amen! God's law can no longer judge you. Do you understand this? Thank the Lord! Whether it is intentional or unintentional killing, punishment will always be imposed. The unintentional manslayer, after entering the city of refuge, does not bear the consequences; it is the high priest, Jesus Christ, who is our high priest. He paid the price for our sins, died for our sins, and became our sin offering.
All judgment fell upon Jesus. When Jesus was on the cross, He ended God's judgment. We are set free, so this is greatly related to the city of refuge. I want to share through the Old Testament city of refuge: in life, how to rely on our God. The function of the city of refuge is to be a shelter, a place to escape to, so that the person does not die. What kind of person needs God's protection?
Verses 1 to 3 say, "The person who unintentionally kills may flee to that city." Verse 6 also says, "He shall dwell in the city of refuge, standing before the congregation to hear judgment, until the death of the high priest who was in office at that time; then the manslayer may return to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled."
Numbers 35:26-28 says,
26 But if the manslayer at any time goes outside the borders of the city of refuge, 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the city, and kills him, the avenger of blood shall not be guilty of murder. 28 For the manslayer must dwell in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; but after the death of the high priest, the manslayer may return to his own property.
What is the difference? Let me tell you a story that is closely related to our lives. When we share the gospel with many people, we say: "Come believe in Jesus with me; only Jesus is our refuge. Only Jesus can cleanse us of all our sins." Those who believe in Buddhism, Islam, Taoism, and other religions say: "It doesn't have to be this way. You believe in your Jesus, and I believe in mine. We just take different paths to heaven, and we will meet in heaven! I admit I am a sinner, but you use your method, and I use mine; we go our separate ways and do not interfere with each other. Isn't it good to live in peace?" The implication is that all people have sinned because of Adam's sin and have become sinners.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
All people have fallen short of God's glory, meaning we are a group of people who deserve to die, who should be pursued and destroyed by God. But God has set up a city of refuge for us. Amen! So you can enter the city of refuge, becoming your shelter, your refuge. But people say, "I don't need to enter the refuge; I don't need to go to the city of refuge. I can use my method to ensure the enemy cannot find me. It is too restrictive in there."
Some people say that believing in Jesus is too troublesome; we have to gather every week, and we have to pray to God for no reason. It is too complicated; I don't want to believe anymore; I really can't believe that... If you enter the city of refuge, you cannot come out again. If you come out and encounter the avenger, you will be killed, and it will be in vain. Before entering, some people say, "I don't want to go in; I don't want to believe in Jesus. You believe in yours, and I will use my method." Outside of Jesus, do other methods work? They do not work! If you do not want to enter the city of refuge, can you go to another city? God does not answer. You can go to another city, but if the avenger wants to kill you, it will be in vain because it is legal under the law. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, all people have sinned, and according to God's law, they deserve to die. When it comes to death, there is nothing to say. But God says: "I have given you a city of refuge; that is the only city of refuge, your shelter. Once you enter, you can escape the law's punishment." Remember, it is for the unintentional! What about the intentional manslayer? They cannot enter the city of refuge. Once they enter the city of refuge, the elders must hand them over to be killed.
The city of refuge is for the unintentional, meaning all people have sinned. You indeed have not committed any sin; it is because of Adam's sin. God says this is unintentional; it is inherited. God says, "I want your sins to be cleaned. You enter the city of refuge, believe that my Son Jesus Christ is your refuge, and I will no longer pursue your sins." Amen! Since we have all been under sin, the fate and outcome of sinners are already before us. God wants to judge sinners and condemn their sins. The wages of sin is death, so we can only enter the city of refuge to escape God's judgment under the law. What is God's intention? Although all people are under sin, God does not want us to die; His intention is for us to live. Amen!
Ezekiel 33:11, "As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live."
Do you see God's intention? Brothers and sisters, to be fair, what do you think should happen to the wicked? Death, indeed, this is your honest answer. Let me give you an example. If a neighbor comes to your house to eat without invitation and speaks ill of you in front of others, and his son throws stones at your window without compensation, if you encounter such a neighbor, you might think, "How wicked!" You would not wish for him to live longer, would you? I know what you are thinking; do not say it out loud. This is how people are.
If there is a wicked person in the village who kills me, I would not share the gospel with him; I would hope he is quickly judged by God... This is how human hearts work. But what is God's intention? God swears here, "As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." When you read the Old Testament, do you feel that this God is quite terrifying, killing people at the slightest provocation, sometimes cruel enough not to spare even a chicken? Killing everyone in the city and cursing them all. It seems our God is dreadful, but God says, "As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live." Amen!
God's intention is not to see us die but to see us turn back and live. After unlocking the Old Testament scriptures, you will have a renewed understanding of our God. Our God, in both the Old and New Testaments, is the same Lord, and His intention has never changed. He is not a God who glares in the Old Testament and becomes gentle like a lamb in the New Testament. He has always been that Lord, who has never changed. In the Old Testament, there are some phrases that may confuse you.
The Lord caused certain disasters to fall upon the Israelites, the Lord caused certain diseases to come upon the Israelites... We think, "How terrifying is God! If I do something wrong, I will be punished; if I do not act well, I will be struck with disease or disaster." So I always fear and tremble before Him, not daring to get too close. In people's eyes, God is like this. In fact, our God has never changed. God says, "I do not delight in the death of the wicked. I hope they can turn from their evil ways and live." The verses in the Old Testament, how should they be interpreted?
In fact, God indeed said that the Lord caused certain calamities to come upon the Israelites, and some things did happen. For example, when the Israelites were in the wilderness, they once complained to Moses: "Moses, who told you to bring us out of Egypt? Look, there is no water to drink; we are going to die..." God sent fiery serpents among the Israelites, and many people died. The Bible says, "The Lord sent fiery serpents among them, and many of them died."
Later, God told Moses, "Make a pole and put a bronze serpent on it; everyone who looks at the bronze serpent will be healed and live." Did God send the serpents? If you think the serpents were sent by God, please raise your hand. Several sisters raised their hands. Indeed, the serpents were sent by God. Let me give you an example. Let's not discuss whether the serpents were sent by God. Let me give you a few examples to confirm whether God sent the serpents.
Brothers and sisters, were the Israelites God's children in the wilderness? They were indeed God's children. Let's think from another perspective. If your child is extremely rebellious and curses you a few times, if you have the ability, would you send a snake to bite them? If you think that is possible, please raise your hand. See if anyone is that cruel? You all understand now. What I want to express is that when we face disobedient children, we cannot bear to send a snake to bite them. How could God be so cruel?
How could our Heavenly Father see the Israelites disobeying and not have any patience? Would He directly send snakes to bite them? Are we reasoning incorrectly? Surely it is not God who sent the snakes. How did the snakes get there to bite many people? This is a fact. Some say God permitted it. Why would God permit it? Many people say the snakes were not sent by God, but God allowed the snakes to bite them. There seems to be a slight difference. I want to explain this scripture to brothers and sisters. What is God's promise, and what is God's permission? Some people say that although the disease is not given by God, God allows the disease to happen to me. I want to ask, why does God allow disease to happen to you? You do not allow disease to happen to your children; how could God allow disease to happen to you? Where is the problem?
Jesus Christ has always been our refuge. Amen! Just as in the wilderness, God has always been the city of refuge for the Israelites. Do you believe this? In the wilderness of Sinai, the temperature can reach over 46°C during the day, which is extremely hot. Thorns can ignite themselves. How did God protect the Israelites during the day? His hand was over the Israelites, with a cloud to shield them from the scorching sun. At night, it gets very cold, sometimes dropping below zero, which could freeze them to death. How did God do it? At night, God still had His hand over the Israelites, with a pillar of fire to provide warmth. No matter where they went, God's hand was always protecting them. Amen!
Why did the snakes come in? In fact, fiery serpents always existed in the wilderness; they were not sent by God. The fiery serpents had always existed in the wilderness of Sinai. Why had no one been bitten before? There had never been a record of anyone being bitten by a snake because God had surrounded them with a shield of protection. God was their refuge. Amen! Just as we believe in Jesus, He is our refuge.
At the beginning of a new week, if you are willing to seek God, God says, "I will be your refuge and will surround you with a fence to protect you." This is not something I am saying; it is mentioned many times in the Bible. For example, before Israel fell into captivity, God spoke through the prophets, saying, "When will you turn back and listen to my words? If you do not listen to me, I will remove your fence." Is the fence a protection?
For the Israelites, there was always God's fence around them, but they did not want God's protection; they wanted to live on their own, to worship idols. So God removed the fence. In the wilderness, God's hand was always upon them, always protecting them, always providing for them, always being their refuge. The Israelites did not realize that God was protecting them and comforting them. When they encountered problems, they still complained, "God, why did you bring us out? Why did you let us die in this place? There is no water to drink; the temperature is so high; I am so frustrated; stay away from me."
Brothers and sisters, I have taught many times that God never forces us to believe in Him. He never forces us to act according to His words. Amen! You have already believed in Jesus; God absolutely does not force you to act according to His words. God wants you to willingly follow His words. Only those who believe are blessed. Amen! Some say, "Since God is so good, why are we unwilling to act according to His words?" We just say it; many times we are unwilling to act according to God's words.
Let me give you an example. God created the laws of the universe in the world. Many laws were created by God. The fire used for cooking was created by God. If you put cold water on it, it will turn to boiling water; if you put raw meat on it, it will turn to cooked meat. What if you put your hand on it? It will get burned. You all believe this. Have you ever tried putting your hand on it? No. Some say, "This is God's law, so I believe it." Why can't we believe the many words of God recorded in the Bible? They are actually the same. Amen!
What I want to tell you is: There are many things in the Bible that God does not want us to do, which are actually beneficial to us. What God wants us to do is also beneficial to us. The New Testament tells us to love one another. If you give love to others, others will give you more love; how wonderful is that? We should also forgive one another because in forgiving one another, we first receive release. The Bible says God is like this, but not everyone is willing to forgive, and not everyone is willing to love one another. Many are filled with hatred. It is actually like putting your hand in the fire to prove that God's words are the same.
The Israelites were always under God's protection. Their complaints against God and Moses were complaints against God. They wanted to live on their own. "Why did you bring us out to die in this wilderness?" In fact, God's hand was always upon them. When they did not want it, God's hand withdrew. What is the consequence of withdrawing? The fiery serpents came in and bit them, killing many of them. This is the reason Christians lose protection and are attacked.
When we complain, we do not realize that God is protecting us. We say, "God, where did you go? Why don't you protect me?" God can only say, "Alright." This is how it was under the Old Testament; it is indeed very terrifying. They complained, and after God's hand withdrew, the fiery serpents bit many of them. But God's intention was not to let the wicked die; He delights in the wicked turning from their evil ways and living. So He gave them salvation, saying, "Look at the bronze serpent on the pole, and you will live." When they looked at the bronze serpent, the poison in them was removed. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, when we come to church, no matter how much poison, bitterness, complaints, or burdens you have in your heart, when you look to Jesus Christ, who is your refuge, that poison will be cleansed. Hallelujah! This place is a city of refuge. You should come to the city of refuge often. It is not forced! It is not like, "Oh, it is Sunday again; why must I go to the city of refuge?" You can choose not to go. If you die outside, do not blame me... This is the implication. This was under the Old Testament. Today, I tell you that the city of refuge is mobile. Wherever you are, the city of refuge is there. Amen!
I hope you rely on Jesus Christ in everything and do not rely on yourself anymore. Relying on yourself means, "Leave me alone, God; let me handle it myself." This makes you vulnerable to attacks. You cannot overcome the devil by relying on yourself. God does not want us to die; He wants us to turn back and rely on Him to live. Amen!
Therefore, brothers and sisters, Jesus Christ is our refuge, our city of refuge. In everything, rely on our Lord. Thank the Lord. Why did God establish the city of refuge? It is a gift to His people. As long as you believe, you will receive grace. Hallelujah! At that time, the Israelites had just settled down after wandering in the wilderness. They had finally entered the land of Canaan, and they had their inheritance. They did not know how to live, so God gave them laws for living.
In fact, our God cares for them in a detailed manner. God first gave them the Ten Commandments, and then when it came to specific living, He gave them laws for living. When you encounter problems, you will definitely find answers in the Bible. Amen! In the past, God told the Israelites, "I carried you on my shoulders like an eagle carries its young, bringing you out of Egypt. Now that you have settled down, I want to give you some laws for living." The establishment of cities of refuge was because unexpected things would happen, and if such people were killed, it would be unfair. Therefore, God wanted to establish cities of refuge for these people to save these innocent lives and give them a chance to live. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, if God had not sent His only Son Jesus into the world, we would not have the opportunity for a second life. God sent His Son to give us the chance to receive His eternal life, and this is the only opportunity. Amen! People around the world have this one chance; through believing in the one whom God sent, they can receive His free eternal life. Amen!
The Bible also tells us that those who enter the city of refuge should not come out. If they come out and encounter the enemy, they will still be killed. Of course, this is in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, can those who have entered into Jesus Christ come out? They cannot come out because we do not live in that era. Under the Old Testament, there was an incident at the city gate. Let us read the Bible:
Verse 4, "The manslayer shall flee to one of those cities, and stand at the entrance of the city gate, and declare his case in the hearing of the elders of that city; they shall take him into the city, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them."
Let me tell you something. Jesus personally told us, "You must enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." In your impression, what does the narrow gate refer to? The narrow gate is Jesus Christ. You answered correctly. What does the wide gate refer to? Hell? There are two gates: Jesus is the gate to eternal life, and the other gate leads to destruction. What is that gate? It cannot be called the gate of hell, right? Why is it a wide gate?
We need to unlock this matter from the Old Testament. The narrow gate refers to Jesus Christ. Jesus told us, "I am the door of the sheep." What is the wide gate? Jesus did not mention it, but when Jesus said, "Do not enter that wide gate, for many enter through it, and that is the way to death," what is that gate? The gates of the city of Israel. Originally, there were two gates at the city gate of Israel: one is the large city gate, which opens during the day, and at night, the large city gate is closed, and a small gate is opened. Jesus refers to these two gates: one is wide, and the other is narrow. Amen!
Jesus said, "You must enter through the narrow gate." The Israelites said, "Why not enter through the large gate? The large gate is so good!" What is the purpose of the large gate? Who is sitting at the city gate? Look at verse 4; who is sitting there inside the city gate? The elders. What are the elders doing there? They are judging.
Under the wide gate in Israel, the elders sit there to perform the work of judgment. If you want to go through the large gate, you will come under judgment, under the law, which will condemn you. Amen! Some may say this reasoning is a bit forced. Think of another matter. After Abraham's family rescued Lot, Lot was promoted and sat at the city gate. Only those with status can sit at the city gate to perform judgment. Who is right, who is wrong, and what punishment should be given are all executed under the city gate.
For example, in the book of Ruth, when Boaz wanted to marry Ruth, he had to have witnesses. He said, "There is a closer relative than I who can marry you. If he does not agree, then I can marry you." Where do they witness this? At the city gate. They are at the city gate, where the elders serve as witnesses.
Those who perform judgment at the city gate are under the wide gate. Is this different from what you have heard before? Brothers and sisters, do not enter under the law; under the law, you can only be condemned. You must enter through the narrow gate, which is Jesus Christ. Amen! Thank God, He has already prepared all these blessings and salvation for us. The city of refuge is what God has prepared for us. As long as you enter the city of refuge, you will receive life.
Before entering the city of refuge, the first thing you must do is to tell your case to the elders. When the elders hear it, they will say, "Yes, you are indeed unintentional; you may enter." Is this entering into grace through the law? Amen! Now entering the city of refuge means entering into grace. Brothers and sisters, do you know who lives in the city of refuge?
There are a total of six cities of refuge in Israel. Next time, I will tell you where these six cities of refuge are, and I can show you on a map. There are six cities of refuge in Israel, and each city is for the priests and Levites to live in. The city of refuge belongs to the cities of the Levites, where the priests and Levites, who serve God full-time, live. The high priest also lives there. It is easy to imagine that after this person unintentionally killed someone, he went to a city where full-time servants of God reside, a place of grace. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, you are unworthy to enter that place; you cannot enter by your own efforts. The Levites receive blessings directly from God and serve God directly. After the unintentional manslayer enters the city of refuge, he will live among the Levites and priests.
Brothers and sisters, we enter into this place through Jesus Christ and live together with Christ. You originally did not deserve it, but God says, "You can come in. Come to me, and I will provide for you." Amen! After the unintentional manslayer enters the city of refuge, he begins to enjoy what the priests have, enjoying the treatment of the Levites and priests. This person begins to enjoy it. Do you know what the Levites did in the past? Every day in the city of refuge, they sang various hymns. Many hymns in the Psalms were composed by those who served.
Their daily life was to worship God, praise God, and compose hymns. Their life was very joyful. This person, by misfortune, entered the city of refuge and spent every day with these priests and Levites, enjoying their joy. Amen!
At that time, the priests wore very beautiful clothes. The best clothes were made of fine linen, which is still considered very high-end clothing today. Fine linen is the best among pure cotton. This is what the Levites and priests wore. Why did God want them to wear such clothes? Fine linen has a characteristic: wearing fine linen in summer feels cool and does not cause sweating. God hopes that those who serve Him do not rely on their own efforts and do not sweat; they completely enjoy God's grace.
In winter, wearing fine linen can also keep them warm. God wants you to remember that you are always enjoying what God provides for you. After the unintentional manslayer enters the city of refuge, he begins to enjoy the treatment of the priests. Others consider him a murderer, but he originally did not deserve it. He enters into the priestly family, enjoying the blessings of the priests, wearing the clothes of the priests, and living in the houses of the priests. Thank the Lord; this is your current situation. This is truly your situation.
They will be influenced by the priests in the city of refuge and will learn to see the world through the priests' perspective. They will learn how to know this great and wonderful Savior. When you come to church, you will hear these full-time servants telling you about God's wonders. They will tell you that no matter how the world looks down on you or misunderstands you, when you come here, you will enjoy the best that the Father provides for you.
You will receive God's freedom and release because God is your provision, your shield, your refuge, your shelter. There is nothing to fear. You are always in the city of refuge, enjoying God's blessings. Amen! Thank and praise the Lord. On both the east and west sides of the Jordan River, there are a total of six cities of refuge, all prepared by God for these people. If the avenger comes to pursue him, the elders shall not deliver him into the hands of the avenger. What does this mean?
I want to explain this scripture to you. In the New Testament, those who have accepted Jesus Christ are in Christ. Amen! Who can pull you out of Jesus Christ? No one. You have the assurance of salvation. Once saved, no one can pull you from heaven to hell; no one has that qualification.
Jesus once said, "The sheep that the Father has given me, I will lose none; no one can snatch them out of my hand." These are the words Jesus personally spoke to us. Once you enter the city of refuge, the city of refuge is surrounded by protection. Amen! The elders will guard the gate for you, so you do not need to worry about safety. No one will directly come in and kill you. Your life is in the hands of Jesus Christ. No matter where you go, God will protect you. Does a true refuge exist in the world? It does not exist. Some say, "The outside world is too dangerous; I will stay at home."
In fact, it is not necessarily safe. I used to be very afraid of flying; I feared it would crash, and the survival rate was too low. I was really terrified of this. But after I got to know God, I was no longer afraid. I knew that even though I was flying, God was with me. At that time, I said I would rather die than fly. Trains seemed safer. Our country is developing rapidly, and train speeds are increasing, but accidents have happened. Trains are also not safe.
Later, I thought maybe cruise ships would be better, but then there were accidents again. I said the best way is not to go out, to minimize going out. I do not take planes or trains. I once worked in insurance for several years. I vividly remember one thing. At that time, my supervisor told me, "Staying at home is also not safe." I thought, "Oh no, it turns out there is a person who thinks exactly like me. He thinks planes are unsafe, trains are unsafe, cruise ships are unsafe, and cars are unsafe, so he does not go out. After work, he stays at home." He lived on the sixth floor, the top floor. One time, a plane crashed and hit his house, killing him. That supervisor said, "See? Do not think there is an absolutely safe place in the world; anything can happen." This shadow accompanied me for many years. I felt there was no truly safe place in the world.
After truly knowing our Lord, I realized that this refuge, this city of refuge, is not a specific place you go to; it is being in Christ. No matter where you are, God is your protection. God is your city of refuge. When Jesus Christ is your protection, you will not encounter problems wherever you are. Because of you, God will protect that place. Thank the Lord. Those who know Jesus understand that Jesus Christ is our ever-present help and protection. No matter where I go, He will be with me because this is God's promise to me. Amen!
If there are people around you who are very afraid and anxious, you can say, "Come believe in Jesus Christ; enter His city of refuge, and you will no longer have these worries. Bring your concerns and worries to Jesus. He is your rest." Hallelujah! Jesus Christ is our refuge, our city of refuge. Do not look for a city of refuge in the world; you will not find it. Because the Bible also says that in the last days, when great disasters come, people will only seek one thing: "Mountains, fall on us; hills, cover us," because they are so afraid and have no place to escape God's judgment.
You are blessed; do not worry about God's judgment upon you because you are already in the city of refuge. In the city of refuge, you are still free. What we just read is from the Old Testament. You are not under the Old Testament; you are under the New Testament. The Old Testament has a characteristic: until the high priest dies, you cannot leave the city of refuge. If you dare to escape from the city of refuge, the one waiting outside will kill you, and it will be in vain. Therefore, you must wait. When can you be free? Until the high priest dies.
Why is the relationship with the high priest so close? The high priest represents our Jesus Christ. Amen! This question will be addressed in the next lesson. We are safe in the city of refuge because God is with you and will protect your journey ahead. Amen! He will protect you, ensuring your foot does not strike a stone, so you do not get hurt. When you do not know what lies ahead, God will clear the path for you. Amen! God knows what you will encounter ahead, and He will give you strength and protection. No matter where you go, He will protect you. Thank the Lord.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise your grace. You established cities of refuge for the Israelites to protect them and provide them with a place of rest, especially for those who unintentionally harm others. When we unknowingly hurt others, we need your protection. In life, we may also unknowingly hurt others. What we need is the supply and protection of Jesus Christ. Or when we are hurt, we should not rely on ourselves to reason with others but come before Jesus Christ to seek protection and comfort.
For in the city of refuge, you have provided a good place. You have given me rest and supplied all my needs. You have already provided everything we need. I do not fear all the things this week. You will protect me and surround me with a fence. I will become your beautiful witness. You are my fortress, my high tower, my refuge, my city of refuge. No matter where I am, you will make a way for me. No matter what kind of environment I encounter, you will never leave me. I commit all my matters into your hands. You come to help me and will surely make a way for me. I thank you for this. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!