Cities of Refuge in Numbers 35: Finding Grace, Justice, and Second Chances

God’s Justice & Mercy: What Cities of Refuge 🏃‍♂️ Teach Us Today

7-Step QT

  1. 🙏 Quiet Time
  2. 📅 June 9, 2025
  3. ✝️ Numbers 35:9-21
  4. 📖 These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there (v. 15).
  5. 📝 God provided cities of refuge to show that His justice includes both accountability and mercy, offering second chances even to outsiders. Today, this reminds us that through Jesus, we have a safe place to run when we fail—and we’re called to be that refuge for others too.
  6. 💬 What does this passage speak to you today?
  7. 🙏 Share below, and let’s encourage one another in prayer!

7-Step QT Notes

📖 Numbers 35:9–21 — A Safe Place for the Guilty and the Grieving

“These six towns will be places of refuge for Israelites, foreigners, and any other people living among them. Anyone who accidentally kills someone can run there for safety.” (v. 15)

🧠 What’s Going On Here?

God tells the Israelites to set up six cities of refuge—safe zones where someone who accidentally kills another person can flee to avoid revenge. These cities weren’t for murderers, but for people who made a tragic mistake.

✨ What This Tells Us About God

  • God is just: He doesn’t ignore wrongdoing.
  • God is merciful: He makes room for second chances.
  • God is inclusive: These cities were open to everyone—Israelites and foreigners alike.

💬 Why This Still Matters Today

1. We All Need a Place to Run

We’ve all messed up—hurt someone, made a bad call, or failed in a big way.

God doesn’t just punish; He provides a way to start again.

Jesus is our ultimate refuge—a place to run when we’re broken, ashamed, or afraid.

🙋‍♀️ “I failed, but that doesn’t mean I’m finished. God gives me space to heal and grow.”

2. Justice and Mercy Go Hand in Hand

Our culture often swings between harsh judgment and total tolerance.

God shows us a better way: hold people accountable, but also offer grace.

We’re called to do the same in our relationships.

⚖️ “I can stand for what’s right and still be kind.”

3. God Cares About Everyone

The cities of refuge weren’t just for the “insiders.”

God made sure everyone had access to safety—no matter their background.

That’s still true today. God’s love isn’t limited to churchgoers or “good people.”

🌍 “God’s grace is for me, even if I feel like I don’t belong.”

🏁 Takeaway Questions

  • When I mess up, do I run to God—or away from Him?
  • Am I someone who offers others a “refuge” when they fail?
  • Who around me needs to know that God’s grace is for them too?

Scriptures

📖 9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. 12 The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. 13 And the cities that you give shall be your six cities of refuge. 14 You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.

16 “But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 17 And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. 20 And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died, 21 or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him (Num 35:9-21, ESV).

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