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NUMBERS 35:11-12

"THE PLACE OF REFUGE"

I. THE CITIES OF REFUGE.
        A. Six cities throughout the land,  three on either side of Jordon.
                1. Located so as to give access to all.
                        a. It is said that you were never more than a half day's journey.
        B. The place of revenge in the eastern culture.
                1. Hard for us to understand this mentality.
                2. It was a thing of honor or duty.
                        a. If a member of my family was killed. it was my duty to pursue
                           the killer and kill him.
                        b. I was to never stop pursuing him.
                        c. In some cultures, if you could not catch the actual murderer:
                                1. Kill a member of his family or tribe
                        d. This culture still exists in parts of New Guinea today.
        C. These cites intended as a place of safety from the avenger for those who had
           accidentally killed someone.
                1. Those guilty of 1st degree murder could find no refuge here.
                2. Let us say you were with your friend throwing rocks with your slings.
        D. You would be safe as long as you remained with the borders of the city.
                1. If you left the city you were no longer safe. but could be killed by
                   the avenger of blood.
                2. Your safety depended on your abiding in that city.

II. THESE CITIES IN MANY WAYS A TYPE OF CHRIST.
        A. Man has broken the law. and the law condemns him to death.
                1. Numbers 32. "Be sure your sin will find you out."
                2. The wages of sin is death and this punishment is pursuing you.
                        a. You are now in the process of dying.
                        b. Should the Lord tarry, the grim reaper will ultimately catch up
                           with each of us.
                3. Death is not the final judgment for the sinner.
                        a. "After that. the judgment." It is appointed unto man..
                        b. "That certain. fearful looking forward to the fiery indignation
                           of God's wrath."
        B. God has provided a place of refuge for man. Jesus Christ
                1. He is within easy reach of all of you 
                2. You can flee to Him and be safe. 
                3. In Christ the avenger cannot touch you.
                4. As long as you abide in Him. you are safe.
                        a. The avenger may threaten and accuse.
                5. You may ask. "But what if a man does not abide in Christ?"
                        a. Let's let Him answer that Himself   "If a man abide not in Me. He
                           is cast forth as a branch and is withered. And men gather them
                           and cast them into the fire and they are burned."
        C. There is only one place of refuge for man.
                1. If you fled to a city other than a city of refuge, it afforded
                   no protection.
                2. People today fleeing to religion,  philosophy. They trust in baptism,
                   church attendance charity.
                3. Jesus Christ is our only refuge.