Cities Of Refuge: Running Toward GraceSample

You may have heard of the “Balm of Gilead,” which was an expensive ointment with famed medicinal and aromatic properties mentioned a number of times in the Bible. This balm was named for the region in which it was produced, Gilead, a region in the hill country to the east of the Jordan River. Ramoth-Gilead, the City of Refuge within the territory of Gad, was located in this same region. 

The meaning of the word ramoth is “heights” but is also related to the words for lifted high, glorified, or exalted (Strong’s #7311, 7413). As we’ve discovered, the Cities of Refuge were built on hills, which would have been the most easily defendable position for an ancient city. The manslayer, desperate for a safe haven from the one who sought their life, would be able to see the high walls from afar. With their eyes lifted and trained on the open gates, they would run those last few cubits toward the boundary line with a racing heart as they headed toward the place of safety. One can even imagine some of the inhabits of the city, the Levites and those who had traveled the same journey before, standing atop the ramparts, calling out encouragement to that desperate, weary soul. 

It takes little stretch of the imagination to see the correlation between the city on the hill and our Messiah, whose coming had been foreshadowed many times in terms of “looking up or being lifted high.” Abraham “lifts up his eyes” to see the ram caught in a thicket in Genesis 22:13— a beautiful picture of the Lamb of God who took our sin upon himself. Moses “lifts up” the bronze snake in the wilderness—a portrait of the slain savior upon the cross that Yeshua himself explains before its occurrence in John 3:14-18. And verse upon verse in the Old Testament, as well as the New, speaks of the Father as exalted, on high, and glorified. Psalm 121 encourages us to lift our eyes to the hills and look for help from the maker of heaven and earth. 

But we have a tendency to look down at our feet during this journey, to worry over the potholes in our path, or focus on the pebble in our shoe, or get preoccupied by what the person beside or behind us might be doing. Instead, we are to fix our eyes on the One who was lifted up and to keep our focus on him throughout the journey. We are admonished in Hebrews 12:1-3 to throw off every encumbrance in our single-minded pursuit of the One who is now exalted and glorified at the right hand of the Father. 

Our great High Priest who died for us is deserving of our unwavering, uncompromising pursuit. So run toward the grace you’ve been given. Press onward and keep your eyes fixed on the High and Exalted One until you step through the gates of his kingdom and into the arms of Everlasting Love. 

Questions to Consider: 

What cares of this world are slowing down your race lately? What struggles have you been stumbling over that are keeping you from single-minded pursuit of Yeshua? Spend some time in prayer today laying every burden, every frustration, and every hindrance at the foot of the One who loves you. 

Isn’t it wonderful that we are not alone in the race set before us? Not only do we have the Holy Spirit to guard and guide us, and a great High Priest who walked a mile in our shoes and understands our every pain and struggle, but we also have a great cloud of witnesses to cheer us on as well. Who is the greatest encourager in your life? How can you return the favor and encourage that person to lift their eyes to the Holy One today?