by Mike Benson

Imagine that you live during Old Testament times. Imagine too that you and a good friend have been working together in the woods, when suddenly a terrible accident occurs. That ax you've been swinging over the past several hours splinters apart, flinging its stone head at your friend's temple. His death is instantaneous. There was no premeditation in the event; it just happened. It was unintentional, but your friend is dead nonetheless.

So what do you do?

You obviously can't dial 911 because phones aren't in existence. Neither can you simply wait around for emergency authorities to arrive on the scene because your life is now in jeopardy. You see, once news of your friend's untimely death reaches his families' ears, their goel (pronounced "go-L") or avenger of blood/1 (Number 35:19) will be in hot pursuit. It is his duty to hunt you down and kill you (Deuteronomy 19:4-6). Yes, even though your friend's death was an accident, as long as you are "out in the open," the goel has the legal right to take your life. That means that either you run -- or die.

You run to any one of six special cities (e.g., Golan, Ramoth, Bezer, Kedesh, Shechem and Hebron -- Joshua 20:7,8) which God designated as sanctuary (Exodus 21:12,13). Each of these cities is strategically located so that, regardless of where you live in Canaan, you can flee no more than a day's journey and find respite therein./2

Once you arrive, you present an abbreviated version of your "case" before the elders of that particular city. Assuming there is prima fascia (i.e., "at first glance") evidence for your innocence, you are permitted to enter the city for the short term. When the goel arrives, a more formal trial is held to determine your standing. If at the conclusion of the proceedings you are found guilty of murder, then you will be turned over to the goel for immediate execution. If, however, you are found innocent, then the goel will be sent home, and you will be offered the long term lodging and protection that only a city of refuge can avail. You must remain there until the death of the high priest (Numbers 25:35).

The reason you must abide in this particular city is because security is found only in those half dozen municipalities which God set apart. "I will appoint for you a place where he may flee" (Exodus 21:13b; cf. Joshua 20:1,2). The cities of refuge were divinely appointed. They weren't the result of the combined wisdom of Israelite elders who thought that it might be a good idea to create safe havens. God Himself decreed that there should be places to which a fugitive could run and be protected from the avenger of blood. These are the ONLY places where your safety is guaranteed. To run to any other city scattered around Canaan would be foolhardy, because it can not offer any protection.

Like the cities of refuge, God has appointed a specific place for your spiritual safety today -- it's called the church (Ephesians 1:22,23; 1:1, 3-7; 3:10,11). It is the only place of real deliverance from the pursuit of sin and its consequences. There are hundreds of religious entities (i.e., cities) to which you might flee, but only the one set up by God affords real security for your soul (cf. Hebrews 6:18; Psalm 46:1; Romans 8:1; Matthew 11:28).

Are you tired of running from the sins in your life? Are you sheltered within the walls of divine protection? I urge you to flee to the city of God. If the Judgment finds you outside of the refuge found only in Christ and his church you will perish (Romans 6:23; Galatians 3:27). Run, dear friend, run!

/1 Also known as a "kinsman redeemer." /2 Roads were built to these cities, thus making it easier for a manslayer to get to them (Deuteronomy 19:3). Extra-biblical sources also suggest that at every crossroad along the way, special signs were posted to help direct the fugitive.

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 45 and 46

A Great Irony

God names a future leader of the Medo-Persian Empire, decades before he is born. His name shall be Cyrus, and sure enough, that is what happened. God brings up this leader, though Cyrus does not acknowledge God, at least not at first.

4 For Jacob My servant's sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. 5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me. (Isa. 45:4, 5, NKJV).

We know that God does these things for those who know Him, but here He shows us that He uses people who do not even know Him! He does so, because,

1 The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. (Psa. 24:1, NKJV).

Even those who hate Him, He owns and uses to fulfill His purposes on the earth. Is our God not magnificent? Praise Him today as you contemplate His use of the people of the world.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

Read First Thessalonians Chapter 3

What the Lord Wants to See in His People

Talk to any Christian, and ask him or her what the Lord wants to see in His people. Ask yourself the question. Now hear the Spirit of God through Paul in the following reading,

12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you (1 The. 3:12, NKJV).

Compare what Paul says with your answer to the question above. Can you find a teaching or a commandment in the New Testament that is spoken about your answer in the manner that Paul does about love? In other words, that love increases and abounds among His people is what the Lord wants to see more than anything. Is that also my goal?

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100

by Don Ruhl

Read First Thessalonians Chapter 4

Why do we live? Hear Paul in First Thessalonians 4:1,

1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more (1 The. 4:1, NIV).

The point of my life is to please God. Pay attention to yourself carefully today, watching your desires, the words you speak, the criticisms you make, the decisions you render and so on, and discover how much of your life you have built on what pleases you. This is frightening, because I believe that I am living to please God, yet, when I do examine myself in this manner, I realize that I am not so God-oriented as I thought that I was. See what happens with you today.

by Don Ruhl

Read Isaiah 47-49

What God can do is beyond all human comprehension. We cannot create the smallest object out of nothing, but watch what our God does with just one hand and with the simple command of His voice.

13 Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, And My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them, They stand up together. (Isa. 48:13, NKJV).

All I can say is Wow! Awesome! Yet, those words are not strong enough because sometimes I use them to describe something that man has done.

If we could bring together all the wisdom and knowledge of all humanity, from the beginning of time to the end of time, we still could not create one atom or one cell out of nothing. Our awesome God, with one hand tied behind His back, can lay the foundation of the earth. See Him wave His right hand and suddenly we have the infinite heavens before us. Then all He has to do is call to them and they stand up together.

Meditate on this day what your God can do so easily. Watch what happens to your spirit.