TREE OF LIFE TEACHING MINISTRY
Pastor/Teacher, Dr. Maurice H. Sykes
NUMBERS CHAPTER 35. ASYLA, "CITIES OF REFUGE"
WHEN YOU NEED HELP, WHERE DO YOU GO? WHO DO YOU TURN TO? WHERE IS YOUR REST? WHERE IS YOUR HELP?
The most significant teaching point to note is God's ultimate purpose for establishing His Asyla-Cities of Refuge: God was promoting His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no greater refuge than being in Christ.
Also, the Spiritual Light that God gives us in Numbers Chapter 35 is not complicated, but does require seeing with spiritual perception.
1) In the Old Testament, ancient world, the Cities of Refuge were physical locations built by human hands. One had to expend great time, energy, and risk their lives to get to one of the Cities. But for church age believers in Christ, the "City of Refuge" is now in our souls. We have a Power-Source-in-Residence: God the Holy Spirit. We have immediate access! Why? The principle, Luke 17:21 "...for the kingdom of God is within you." Colossians 3:3, "...and your life is hid with Christ, in God."
2) The six Cities of Refuge were placed strategically so that people from all over the nation could get to them for safety. But church age believers in Christ are PLACED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE ONLY STRATEGIC PLACE OF WORTH: IN CHRIST AND CHRIST IN THEM.
3) God provided the six Cities of Refuge for those who were innocent of committing murder (even though they still sinned by accidentally killing someone.) But church age believers in Christ were ALL GUILTY and God's Grace, Mercy and Justice provided one location of refuge: The Body of Christ. Romans 3:9-24
4) The six Cities of Refuge (Asyla) were types of Christ: sinners could only find refuge IN THE CITIES from the destroyer. Deut.4:43 Josh.20:8.
5) The six Cities of Refuge (Asyla) had God's anointed servants there: the Levite high priests. They represented the presence of God---and "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty/freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17
6) The six Cities of Refuge (Asyla) represented God's Grace, Truth, Mercy and God's Justice. But outside the Cities (outside of the Body of Christ) there is only Punishment, Law, Vengence, Injustice, Death and Destruction!
7) The six Cities of Refuge (Asyla) were placed in this manner: 3 Cities on each side of the Jordan River. In other Words, they were "SET APART" for service to God.
See this with spiritual perception: Christ was on the Cross 3 hours on each side of light and darkness. He was set apart for service to God the Father. The six Cities of Refuge also represent the completed work of Christ on the Cross. The final 3 hours on the Cross were set apart for Him to receive all the sins of the world and all of the pain and punishment for the offenses of the world.
8) Let's note Numbers 35:25 "The congregation shall deliver the manslayer from the hand of the blood avenger, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he fled; and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil."
The high priest was the anointed of God---the servant of God who, in effect, represented God's presence. And, just as the blood of Christ was effective for eternal redemption/salvation by offering His life and His death, so the life and death of the high priest of the Old Testament secured the complete deliverance of the sinner who had entered the Asyla, Cities of Refuge.
If the person was innocent, they were pardoned and delivered from death. But if the person was guilty of murder, they were delivered over to death. Why did the person have to stay in the Asyla, the Cities of Refuge until the high priest died? God is a Genius and provided practical remedies to very serious problems. The death of the high priest was a very serious occasion, and the entire nation mourned the loss of one of God's greatest instruments: God-inspired servants who, for the most part, did not compromise with the world!
When the nations mourned for the high priests, the hearts of people, saved and unsaved, became more gracious. The evil intent of relatives seeking revenge against people in the Asyla, Cities of Refuge who had killed a relative or friend, was put in check. The priority of the day was no longer revenge, but was mourning God's mighty servant, the high priest.
Great grace was demonstrated during the time of the high priest's death. So then, because of the death of ONE, the High Priest, the many were set free, who were indeed guilty! (compare Romans 5:17-19.) Once set free by the death of The One, the pardoned and freed person could return back to their original home.
Now, can you see Christ in any of this? The believers in Christ have been pardoned and set free. Once we believed in Christ, we were carefully placed back in to our "ORIGINAL HOME," that God had prepared for us before the foundations of the world: that home is in the Lord Jesus Christ, in heavenly places. Back with God, where our original home is.
***IN CONCLUSION... There is an ancient expression: "The suit expires with the party." Meaning, when The One died, Jesus the Christ, the case against us, as guilty-sinners, has also died. This is what Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness and Freedom is all about. So then, the Asyla, the six Cities of Refuge is all about the Lord Jesus Christ, and God wants you to look at this teaching with spiritual eyes so that you might honor His Son. There is no greater city of refuge than being a new spiritual species...created by the Lord Jesus Christ. What "city" are you living in?
***KEEP THIS IN MIND: "NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED." ---Acts 4:12
Now carefully note the word "salvation" and "saved." In the original Greek language, both words come from the word SOZO. SOZO not only means eternal salvation with God, SOZO also means deliverance from pressures; having needs met; healing. Our daily needs are met by the Lord Jesus Christ. Eternal salvation is great, but remember that God wants you to be a winner here! On earth. On your job, in the home, in every facet of living, God wants us to be winners! Here and now. And we can be by inhaling His Word, Bible doctrine and applying it to our daily experience.
As a Christian, you are a winner. Now, it's up to you to become what Christ says that you are.
Grace to you. ---mhs
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Dr. Sykes is Pastor/Teacher at St. Luke UAME Church, Camden, NJ
E-mail address: sykesword@msn.com