The City of Refuge

One of the great privileges afforded to citizens of the United States of America is the opportunity to travel with a U.S. Passport. While there are countries where that results in greater danger, most countries Americans travel to welcome and respect U.S. citizens.

Whenever I have traveled to foreign lands I have prioritized knowing where the closest U.S. Embassy is located. The reason this is important is that if I were to find myself in danger or threatened in that country the U.S. Embassy could be my only refuge. Wherever a U.S. Embassy is located, the property is considered to be U.S. soil and is defended by the U.S. Marines. Once inside the fortified defenses of that property, U.S. citizens are under the protection of the United States government. 

Similarly, Joshua 20 describes six cities that God had commanded Israel to establish that would serve as strategically located cities of refuge. Three were on the east side of the Jordan River and three were to be on the west side. Two were to be located in the north, 2 central, and 2 in the southern part of their new land. The purpose of these cities was to provide a safe place for someone who had unintentionally or accidentally killed another person. If the family of the person killed sought to avenge the death of their loved one, the man-slayer would be protected as long as they remained inside the walls of the City of Refuge. 

The passage gives us great insight into the sanctity of human life and the ideas of justice and mercy. These are ideas that were used to construct the justice system outlined in the U.S. Constitution and founding documents. Additionally, there are important truths for anyone guilty of sin against a holy God. Where alone can the unrighteous flee?