Joshua 20:1-3- The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, wherefore I spake unto you by the hand of Moses: That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Six cities of refuge were appointed to Israel. Note that this only can take effect if a life was taken by accident. Yet we know in our flesh, that even if done by accident, there would be those that would still be furious. Therefore, the one who killed accidently, was commanded to go to a city of refuge. It was there he was tried and if found innocent would stay in that city until the high priest of that city died. How would you like to be one of the high priest's in one of those cities? Talk about a tough assignment. Once the high priest died, the offender was then allowed to return home.

What does this teach us? It teaches us that God is just. It teaches us that God knows man better than we know ourselves. Seeing that God knows how we would react to such a tragedy, he puts a plan in place. You see God does not want one to lose his life, when he had taken one by accident. Life is precious to God and so is death. God has appointed every man a time to die and we do not want to do things to ourselves or others that would hasten that process. The life of his Son was precious. Jesus would live and die when his time came. We see Jesus died exactly when he was supposed to. No man took his life but he freely gave it for us. May we hold the days we have to be precious and respect the time that he has given to others as well.

In Christ