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Today is Sunday February 28, 2010, and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Numbers, chapters 34-36. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this URL onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-february-28

Title: Bible Study: City of Refuge
The world has over 6.7 billion people in it and only a small percentage of those people are true Christian's. The amazing thing is that we can be spotted for miles, even a person who lives in the world can spot a Christian, yet, we are scattered all over the place, even places that are forbidden to speak the name Christ hold Him near and dear to their hearts. Yes, those places still exist today. We have no idea just how blessed we are in the little bit of land that God has given us to dwell on. The Israelites were preparing themselves to enter the promised land, it was the land of Canaan, a nation well known to being a God nation since God led Abraham there ages ago. The land was very small, only about a hundred and sixty miles long and fifty miles wide. It must have seemed very small to the over four hundred thousand people, but it was their land and it was given to them by God Himself. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Canaan; (this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof:)” - Numbers 34:1,2. Eight and a half of the twelve tribes were given an inheritance into the land of Canaan. Although all if the earth is the Lord's, few know him, and serve him, but those few that do are happy because they know the love of their God and know that what they have here on earth is only temporal and their treasures in heaven are much more bountiful than the small portion of earth that God has given them to dwell in. The little bit that a righteous man has, having it from the love of God, and with his blessing, is far better and more comfortable than any of the riches gotten through evil. Praise God!

The Levites were not given a portion of the land, but they were given a portion of each inheritance to dwell in, “And the LORD spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts.” - Numbers 35:1-3. The cities of the priests and Levites were given not only to accommodate them, but to place them, as religious teachers, in several parts of the land. Since there would only be one Tabernacle in the land, it was important for the people to be able to hear God's Word being taught and to have someone near by that would minister to, pray, and comfort them in their time of need. Just like the Levites, as Christians, we too dwell among every part of the world to teach God's Word, to minister to them, and to pray and comfort them in their time of need. Nothing has changed over the centuries, except technology. While we can all read the Bible it is very important that we get around other godly people, with the same beliefs, who can help us understand certain things and also give us comfort when we need it.

Of the forty-eight cities give to the Levites to dwell in, six were assigned as cities of refuge, which were easily accessible throughout the eight tribes. These cities were vitally important as places of safety for those who had unintentionally killed someone until a trial could determine their guilt or innocence. “But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait, Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm: Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments: And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.” - Numbers 35:22-25. Not all killing is murder and murder should not be confused with killing in times of war. The Lord had sanctioned war in order for Israel to possess the promised land as well as many other wars over the centuries. Even if the act was proven to be accidental, the manslayer was to remain in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest. As long as he was there, he was protected from the avenger, but if he left the city before the high priest died, he could legally be put to death. The death of the high priest was the atonement for the manslayer and pictured Christ's death to atone for our sins. When the priest died, the manslayer was able to leave as a free person with no fear of being put to death. However, if the incident was proven to be deliberate murder, the guilty person was turned over to the avenger to be put to death. God said to spare the life of a guilty murderer would defile the nation, for the murderer not only had destroyed one who was created in the image of God, but he also had intentionally taken from God His authority over that life.

Today, God expects more from His followers, as they have been saved by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, than merely refraining from murder. He expects us to love others even as He loves us and demands the highest respect for human life, for man was created in His image. “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” - John 13:34,35. We have refuge in the blood of Christ and that means not one person on this earth, not even the devil, can take us away from Him. We may suffer a bit from time to time, but He is with us through it all and will avenge us. Praise God.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and the Lord's day, God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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