Living Room Study

Joshua 20

“These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and foreigners among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood until he stands before the assembly.”  Joshua 20:9

It is good to know that Satan is not our judge.  He could never be fit to judge us, because his only motive is to pervert justice.  Yet, the devil would love for us to believe that our cases have already been decided, and we are simply awaiting God’s eternal punishment. 

Good news: Our trial is not over.  In fact, it hasn’t even begun.

“It is appointed once for a man to die, THEN unto judgment.”  Hebrews 9:27 

Good news:  We have an advocate, or defense attorney in Jesus.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, an man, Messiah Jesus, who gave Himself – a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:5

Not only is Jesus our advocate, but His salvation is our refuge.  Let’s look at the names of these cities of refuge listed in Joshua 20.  Through these cities’ names, the Lord is painting a picture of Messiah.

Kadesh signifies, “Holy”, and our refuge is Holy Jesus.  Shechem means, “A shoulder”; the government is upon His shoulder.  Hebron is “Fellowship”, and believers are called into the fellowship of Messiah, our Lord.  Bezer means, “Fortification”, and Jesus is a stronghold to all who trust Him.  Golan is “Joy and exultation”, for in Him all believers are justified, and will worship Him with great joy!

Many of us know the verse: John 3:16.  But do we know the verse that follows it?

“For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world; but that the world might be saved through Him.”  John 3:17

Have you received the refuge that Jesus freely offers?  There will be a day of judgment; and a righteous judge, the Lord God, will preside.  Knowing this day is coming, how could we reject our only source of salvation?

Blessings.

Steve Wiggins