Cities Of Refuge: Running Toward GraceSample

The closest City of Refuge to Shiloh, which was the center of worship and the home of the Tabernacle until King David moved it to Jerusalem, was the city of Shechem, within the territory of Ephraim. Shechem was an ancient city and an important one in the history of Israel. In this same valley, located between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, Yahweh cut an eternal covenant with Abraham, promising that his descendants would someday inherit the Land. It was near to Shechem that Joseph was sold by his brothers to slave traders, the first step in a journey that would lead all the Hebrews into slavery in Egypt. And it was in Shechem where Joshua and the Israelites reconfirmed that covenant with Yahweh after all those years of slavery and laid Joseph’s bones to rest. 

The root definition of Shechem is “shoulder.” (Strong’s #7928) At first glance, this word may not seem to have any significance to God’s justice and mercy and their relation to the Cities of Refuge, but let’s dig deeper. 

One of the most well-known passages about Yeshua is due to the popularity of Handel’s Messiah. Among the lyrics is the line “and the government shall be upon his shoulder.” This comes from Isaiah 9:6, the prophecy of the coming Messiah, his attributes, and his designation as Almighty God. Not only did Yeshua come to walk among us in human flesh as a suffering servant destined to sacrifice his life for ours, but he is coming again as the King of Kings and it is his government that will reign forever. 

When the Cities of Refuge were established, they were surrounded by man-made kingdoms, large and small. Although many of these kingdoms had written and/or oral codes of law, there was nothing like Israel. Never had a god written laws into stone with his own divine finger. Never had a code of laws been such a perfect balance of justice and mercy. Never had a government been established for the purpose of protecting a nation of people out of sheer, unconditional love. 

Shechem, along with the rest of the Cities of Refuge, was a shining example of the goodness of the Torah laws among brutal, pagan cultures in which human life was worth little. The cities were pictures of perfect justice, because even though manslayers came there to save their own lives, they still endured severe consequences for their terrible mistake. They were cut off from their home communities and imprisoned inside the city—possibly for the rest of their lives.

But these cities were also a beautiful picture of mercy. The manslayer was saved from the vengeance of their victim’s family, and they were protected and cared for by the Levites within the walls. When the High Priest died, they were absolved from their crime and allowed to return home—just as our own High Priest died for us so that we could be reconciled with Yahweh and welcomed home by our loving Father (Rom. 5:6-11).  

Man-made forms of government are ultimately destined to fail because they are designed by flawed human beings. We have seen evidence of this throughout history and into the present day. But Yahweh’s government is just and merciful and will endure forever. We have hope for the day when our King returns to rule because there will be no end to the greatness and peace of his reign. The returning King is the same One who died for us, loves us with an everlasting love, and who will never go back on his promises. 

What is even more amazing is that the same shoulders upon whom this eternal and righteous government will rest are the shoulders upon which we are invited to lay down our burdens for the purpose of finding rest for our souls (Matt. 11:28-30). 

Can you just imagine the relief of the manslayer who finally made it to the boundary of the City of Refuge? How bone-tired he or she must have felt after fleeing for their life? That city on a hill must have been such a beacon of hope for their burdened hearts!

Yeshua is the same for us. Not only can we rely on his righteousness to save us, but we can lay all of our burdens on his capable shoulders. Let’s not just walk into the arms of such overwhelming grace by the King of Kings—let’s run. 

Questions to Consider: 

In what ways has man-made government discouraged you? What things do you look forward to when Yeshua returns to reign on the throne of David? Do you see any parallels between the Torah law of refuge cities and the laws of our country? What contrasts do you see? 

Take some time today to meditate on Yeshua’s role as the King of Kings and imagine what it might be like when peace and justice reigns supreme. Have you allowed Yeshua to shoulder all of your burdens? Ask him to reveal what things you have not fully relinquished to his care and then hand them over! His shoulders are plenty strong enough to take on whatever is weighing you down today.