The Cities of Refuge Typical of Christ

The six Cities of Refuge— all Levitical cities were appointed by God to secure the man-slayer against the avenger of blood. The man-slayer was in peril of his life and the cities, appointed by God, were his refuge. "The eternal God is thy refuge" And we see in type for the man-slayer what Christ is for us, for "we have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the' hope set before us: which hope we have as a sure anchor of the soul" (Heb. 6:19-20). The God-appointed refuge for the believer is Christ. There is no refuge except under the blood (Heb. 9:22). And there was no refuge for the man-slayer except in the God-appointed cities.

The Cities of Refuge were appointed by God to secure the man-slayer against the avenger of blood. God spoke unto Moses, saying, "Appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, that killeth any person unawares" (Num. 35:11). Christ was appointed by God to save and to secure the lost. God "sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (I Jno. 4:10), "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:10). Christ has accomplished His work on the cross and man must "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" for salvation in whom he has security. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe" (Prov. 18:10). "There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). Christ is the God-appointed way of safety. Apart from Christ escape is impossible; in Him is perfect security.

The Cities of Refuge were easy of access; there were three on each side of Jordan. "Ye shall give three cities on this side Jordan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge" (Num. 35:14). God gave the man-slayer every possible chance for security. Christ, too, is easy of access. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31). Faith in the Son of God gives salvation, and all are permitted to believe. '^Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (Jno. 3:16)). "The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved" (Rom. 10:8, 9). "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me" (Rev. 3:20). "And him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out" (Jno. 6:37).

"The moment a sinner believes,
And trusts in his crucified God;
That moment his pardon receives,
Salvation in full through Christ's blood."

The Cities of Refuge had well kept roads leading to them, and sign posts guiding the fugitive to them. "Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it. Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land . . . into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither" (Deut. 19:2, 3). The roads must be prepared so that the slayer will have every chance to gain his security in one of the cities. And old Jewish writings state that at cross-roads were guide posts with the words: "Refuge! Refuge!" to guide the fugitive. Christ is made gloriously clear and plain by the Word of God, the heaven-given guide post. "I am the way, the truth and the life" (Jno. 14:6). "This is the w^ay, walk ye in it" (Isa. 30:21). "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life" (Jno. 5:24). "Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me" (Jno. 5:39).

The names of the Cities of Refuge signify the glorious excellencies of the man-slayer's refuge. Kedesh is a "holy place." And in the place God provided is signified the glorious attribute which the man should have. The same is true with reference to Christ and the believer. Shechem means "shoulder" or strength. Again God supplies the strength which the refugee needs. Hebron is "fellowship," and God provides for fellowship for the man-slayer. Bezer, a "fortress," and God is his fortress. The refugee had no stronghold outside of the God-provided place. Ramoth is "exaltation." And who is exalted except he be exalted by God. Golan is "joy." And the man-slayer's joy was in the refuge given by God. In our Lord are all these glorious excellencies seen. Christ is the holy one (Heb. 7:26), and in Him is strength. The "government shall rest upon His shoulders" (Isa. 9:6). In Him is fellowship (Jno. 17:21), there can be none outside of Christ. He is our fortress (Isa. 25:4). He is "a refuge from the storm." "Christ hath God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Savior" (Acts 5:31), and He is our joy (Lk. 2:10, 11). In Him is our joy made full. In Christ only, are all these glorious excellencies seen. They are God-given and cannot be of man.

The Cities of Refuge were the man-slayer's only refuge. These cities were given that the man-slayer ^'might flee thither." "But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; and the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood, kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood; because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest" (Num. 35:26-28). Without the walls of one of these cities was no refuge. Christ is the sinner's only safety. "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already" (Jno. 3:i8). "Look unto me, and be ye saved, all ye ends of the earth" (Isa. 45:22); "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior" (Isa. 43:11). "There is none other name under heaven . . . whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Christ is the believer's only security. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. . . . Apart from me ye can do nothing" (Jno. 15:4, 5). Resist not, and grieve not the Spirit of God.

The beacon light is seen in Matt. 3:7: "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" While the welcome sings back in Jno. 6:37:"Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." Give ear to wisdom's cry.