Do Not Leave the Place of Refuge

Note from today’s Bible reading: Numbers 33-36

Instructions were given to the Israelites to establish six “cities of refuge” (Numbers 35:11) after they entered the promised land. These would provide a place of safety for anyone who unintentionally killed someone else.

While one who accidentally caused the death of someone could find safety in a city of refuge, they needed to remain in that city until the death of the high priest. The Lord warned them what would happen if they failed to do this: “But if the manslayer at any time goes beyond the border of his city of refuge to which he may flee, and the blood avenger finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and the blood avenger kills the manslayer, he will not be guilty of blood because he should have remained in his city of refuge…” (Numbers 35:26-28). There was safety, but only if he remained in the place of refuge. If he ever left, he was in danger.

This is comparable to the safety that we have in Christ. Salvation is in Him or His church (Ephesians 5:23). Yet if we want to be saved, we need to “be faithful until death” (Revelation 2:10). In other words, if we depart from Christ, we are forfeiting the safety that we enjoy in Him.

So do not leave the place of refuge. We are safe as long as we remain in Christ and in His fellowship. Let us not wander away from Him and back into the world lest we throw away the hope of salvation He has offered us.