Josué 20

Josué 20

William MacDonald - D. L. Moody noted that “the cities of refuge are a type of Christ, and their names are significant in that connection.” The cities of refuge and the meaning of the names are as follows: West of Jordan Kedesh—Holiness Shechem—Strength Kirjath-Arba or Hebron—Fellowship East of Jordan Ramoth-Gilead—Uplifting Golan—Happiness Bezer—Safety Thus Christ provides every blessing suggested by the names of these cities. A glance at the map will show that the cities of refuge were strategically located so that no point in the land was more than thirty miles from one of them. Moody makes the application: As the cities of refuge were so situated as to be accessible from every part of the land, so Christ is very accessible to needy sinners (1 John 2:1, 2). Notice the parallels between the temporal salvation offered the manslayer in the cities of refuge and the eternal salvation offered the sinner in Christ. The roads to the city were clear and well-marked, just like the way of salvation, so that none would make a mistake and lose his life. The cities were spread throughout the land and easily accessible to all, even as Christ is accessible to all men. Crisis drove people to the city of refuge, and many times a crisis is needed to drive people to the Lord Jesus for refuge. There was no neutral ground for the guilty person—he was either safe in the city or subject to the wrath of the blood avenger. Each individual is either safe in Christ or under the judgment of God (John 3:36).(Believer's Bible Commentary) Gangel has an illustration and application - Some years ago at a Promise Keepers rally in Dallas, fifty thousand men sat in an open football stadium when a Texas storm blew in. As the sky darkened and the lightning flashed, they were instructed to file out of the stadium and across the parking lot to an indoor arena. Running through the rain, event organizers could be seen pointing and yelling, "This way to shelter! This way to shelter!" That is our role. To serve as signposts and shouters along the highways toward the cities of refuge, telling people where they are and directing them safely to shelter. (Holman Old Testament Commentary - Joshua) Warren