We all love the idea of ‘safe places’ – places of sanctuary, of protection. For many of us we like to imagine our home as being such a place, or a particular room in our home; for others it’s a place of worship; it might even be a remote spot, somewhere quiet where we feel free.
The idea of refuge has a long and noble history, pre-dating even today’s chapter. And it remains current today: we build refuges for those escaping domestic violence, and the word ‘refugee’ now applies to all fleeing places of danger or crisis, and seeking safety and sanctuary elsewhere.
Today’s chapter forms a key part of our modern understanding of refuge – albeit within a very specific context related to justice. As the land was being settled, the Israelites also needed to establish the rule of law and a functioning system of justice. In particular, after years of military conflict when bloodshed had become commonplace, it was particularly important to remember that, in peace-time, the shedding of blood was forbidden by God’s law. And if blood was shed, that had to be repaid by blood: murderous blood pollutes the land (Numbers 35:33) and must be satisfied.
The Jewish law established what became the fundamental building block of all legal systems, including ours today: ‘an eye for an eye’ – in other words, that the punishment fits the crime. But what if someone was killed accidentally? Should that mean the death sentence? Cities of refuge were the answer. Six were established – three on each side of the Jordan – where a killer could flee to, and plead his or her case that the death was accidental (v4).
If the elders agreed, then instead of the death penalty, the offender was allowed to live in this city until the death of the serving High Priest – at which point they could return home (v6), and the family of the deceased were not allowed to take revenge.
It’s a wonderful idea, and hundreds (even thousands) of years ahead of its time. Today we give thanks for the vital work of all places of refuge across the world. It also reminds us that, ultimately, God is our refuge: ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble,’ as Psalm 46 begins. Most powerfully of all, this God shed his own blood as satisfaction for our sins – the ultimate spiritual refuge.
Take a few moments to dwell in God’s ‘refuge’ today… and pray too for all who seek to offer refuge to others – practical expressions in our world of the eternal refuge of God.