Joshua

Joshua 20: God provides cities of refuge

Begin in prayer

Before we read about the cities of refuge, please ask God to help us understand His care for human life. Let us confess our sins and look to Jesus for the mercy we need.

But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.

Psalm 59:16

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us about Your provision of refuge, and show us Christ, who saves guilty people who trust Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The LORD tells Joshua to assign the cities of refuge He spoke of through Moses. Someone who kills unintentionally may flee there from the avenger of blood. At the city gate, the elders hear his case and give him a place. He must remain until judgment before the congregation and until the high priest dies, after which he may return home. Three cities are named on each side of the Jordan. They are appointed for Israelites and the foreigner living among them.

As you read Joshua 20, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God provides a safe place for someone who kills without meaning to.

The LORD told Joshua to assign the cities of refuge that He had spoken of through Moses (verse 2). A person who killed by accident could flee to one of these cities, safe from the avenger of blood (verse 3). At the city gate he told his case to the elders, and they gave him a place to live among them (verse 4). If the avenger came, the elders would not hand him over, because he had not hated his neighbor before (verse 5). He stayed in the city until he stood before the congregation for judgment, and until the high priest of those days died (verse 6). Then he could return to his own city and house (verse 6). Three cities were set apart on each side of the Jordan, for Israel and the foreigner living among them (verses 7 to 9). The New Testament does not call these cities a picture of Christ. It does speak of those who flee for refuge to the hope set before them (Hebrews 6 verse 18).

How does Joshua 20 show us that God provides a safe place for someone who kills without meaning to?

God tells Israel to set apart safe cities.

The LORD told Joshua to assign the cities of refuge He had spoken of through Moses (verse 2). They were for a person who killed another by accident (verse 3). That person could flee there and be safe from the avenger of blood (verse 3). Please explain this without describing a death.

The elders must hear the person who flees there.

The man stood at the city gate and told his case to the elders (verse 4). They took him in and gave him a place to live (verse 4). If the avenger of blood came, they would not give him up, because he had not hated his neighbor before (verse 5).

God gives rules for staying and returning home.

He stayed in the city until he stood before the congregation for judgment (verse 6). He remained until the high priest died, and then he could go home (verse 6). The New Testament does not call these cities a picture of Christ. It does speak of those who flee for refuge to the hope set before them (Hebrews 6 verse 18).

Memorise

Assign the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you by Moses

Joshua 20:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what sin am I hiding that I need to bring to Jesus?

The LORD gave a safe place to a person who had killed someone by accident and had not hated his neighbor. At the gate the elders took him in and gave him a place to live. The New Testament does not call these cities a picture of Christ. It does speak of those who flee for refuge to Jesus (Hebrews 6 verses 18 to 20).

Those cities were for sins done without meaning to. We have sinned on purpose, and we need a greater mercy. At the cross Jesus died for His people and bore their guilt, and what He finished there never needs to be done again. Then the Father raised Him from the dead.

So run to Jesus today. Turn from your sin and trust Him. Those who trust Him are forgiven.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD gave a safe city to someone who killed another by accident. Parents, please explain verses 3 to 6 in your own words, and keep it simple. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for providing refuge and for the mercy found in Jesus, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, “This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”

Luke 15:2

Lord God, thank You for providing cities of refuge. Thank You that Jesus receives sinners who repent. Please bring our hidden sins into the light, and lead each of us to trust Him. This week, teach us to tell the truth and seek mercy instead of hiding our wrongs. Amen.