Journal Through the Bible: Week 26 Monday

source

Sorry for the delay. Thank you for your patience!
Numbers chapter 35

Does God issue any commands in this chapter?

• He commanded the people to give the Levites cities to dwell in among the inheritance of the other tribes. They were to have a distance of 1000 cubits outward from the city walls for pastureland for the cattle given into their hands. And the boundaries of the city limits outside the walls were to be 2000 cubits around.
• God wanted 6 cities of refuge to be designated for men to flee to in times of manslaughter to escape any avenger that might kill him before he has had a chance to stand trial. 42 other cities were to be given to the Levites for their dwellings. There were to be 3 cities on each side of the Jordan.
• God established laws to judge between premeditated murder and accidental manslaughter and designated penalties for each. The person who was judged to have committed manslaughter was to remain inside the walls of the city of refuge at all times until the death of the high priest. If he came outside the walls before that time he took his life into his own hands because the avenger could kill him. The murderer was to be put to death at the testimony of more than one witness. No one was to try to thwart the sentence of death upon a murderer or upon the manslayer that left the protective walls of the city of refuge.

Does God make any promises?

• God promised that He dwelt among the Children of Israel and that is why He wanted the inhabitants of the land to practice righteous judgment.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The psalms tell us that God is our refuge and strength. He is the Rock to which we run in our trouble. He is our fortress and our shield. Therefore cities of refuge are a picture of Christ. We put Someone to death with our sins which makes us guilty of killing another. But Jesus forgives us of that crime and we can run to Him for our protection. We need never fear what accusations are made against us. He is also the high priest and it is His death that allows us to be released from the law in order to enjoy our inheritance.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• The person judged guilty of accidental manslaughter had to remain in the city of refuge until the high priest died. Then he could return to his inheritance. This earth and its inhabitants have been under the penalty of death ever since the sin of Adam and Eve, but at the death of the High Priest, Jesus, the restoration began. Someday the earth and all the inhabitants that have been freed at the death of the High Priest will be restored to their original inheritance given to them at creation by God.