Numbers

Numbers 35: God guards life and judges justly

Begin in prayer

Before reading how God guarded life through justice and refuge, let us ask Him for hearts that honour Him. Pray that we will hear His judgment soberly and seek mercy in Jesus.

For judgment will return to righteousness. All the upright in heart shall follow it.

Psalm 94:15

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to honour the lives You give, and show us Jesus, the refuge guilty people need before Your judgment. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God commands Israel to give the Levites forty-eight towns with pastureland, including six cities of refuge. Three refuges are on each side of the Jordan, open to Israelites and foreigners who kill someone unwittingly. The congregation must judge the case before the avenger can take a life. A murderer must be put to death, while someone who killed without hostility must stay in the refuge until the high priest dies. Leaving earlier exposes that person to death at the avenger’s hand, while the priest’s death allows a return home. One witness cannot establish a death sentence, and no ransom may release a murderer or shorten the required stay in refuge. God forbids defiling the land with bloodshed because He dwells among Israel.

As you read Numbers 35, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God guards human life and requires just judgment among the people where He dwells.

The Lord gives the Levites towns among Israel, including six places of refuge for someone who has killed another person unwittingly. The avenger is the family member responsible to pursue justice for the death. Refuge prevents a killing before the congregation has judged what happened. The law distinguishes murder from a death caused without hatred or a plan to harm. A death sentence requires more than one witness, and no payment may spare a convicted murderer. The person judged to have killed unwittingly must stay in the refuge until the high priest dies. Bloodshed defiles the land where God dwells, so justice protects both life and the holiness of His people.

How does Numbers 35 show us that God guards human life and requires just judgment among the people where He dwells?

God provides towns for service and refuge among His people.

The tribes give towns according to the size of their inheritance. The Levites receive places to live and pasture for their animals. Six of these towns also provide refuge, so care for God’s servants and protection of life reach across the land.

God protects a person until the truth of a death is judged.

The person who killed unwittingly may flee from the avenger to a city of refuge. Israelite and foreigner receive the same protection. The congregation must distinguish murder from a death caused without hatred or a plan to harm.

God requires His just sentence to be honoured.

A murderer must die, and one witness cannot establish that sentence. No ransom may free a murderer or let the person in refuge leave before the high priest’s death. Leaving the refuge early exposes that person to the avenger, while the priest’s death permits a safe return home.

God’s presence calls His people to honour the lives He gives.

Bloodshed defiles the land, and only the murderer’s blood can make atonement for the land where that blood was shed. Wealth must never purchase escape from God’s justice. The LORD dwells among the children of Israel, so the land must not be defiled (verse 34).

Memorise

The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the man slayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment.

Numbers 35:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what guilt do I hide instead of fleeing to Jesus for mercy?

God provides cities “for refuge from the avenger”. The person must stand before the congregation for judgment, and the guilty cannot buy freedom with a ransom. The Lord guards life and refuses to ignore guilt.

We cannot claim innocence before Him, because our sin deserves judgment. Jesus suffered for His people, bearing their sin and the punishment that was theirs on the cross. He rose from the dead, His saving work complete and fully sufficient for their rescue. Hebrews 6 verse 18 speaks of those who flee for refuge to the hope God gives.

Please turn from the sin you hide and place your trust in Jesus. His sacrifice brings forgiveness to those who come seeking mercy. Please bring Him the guilt you cannot escape or repay. The Savior who has faced judgment for His people gives them a secure place before the holy God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God values human life and judges guilt justly, and Jesus is the refuge every sinner needs. 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 guarding life and giving mercy without setting aside His justice, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Luke 23:42

Lord God, thank You for guarding life and requiring true justice. Please forgive our anger, dishonesty and every wrong we hide. Turn each of us from sin and lead us to trust Jesus for mercy. Teach us to honour other people’s lives and seek justice without taking private revenge. Amen.