City of Refuge and the Earth

City of Refuge: An Introduction

Human beings are like prisoners in a city of refuge. Many people ask, “If God loves us and wants us to be in heaven, free from death, pain, and sorrow (Revelation 21:4), why are we born into a world full of suffering?” Why don’t we start our lives in heaven without any hardships?

The answer to this question can be found in the Bible. It explains that this world is like a spiritual city of refuge, where we are all temporary prisoners.

City of Refuge in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites through Moses to establish cities of refuge. These cities were meant to offer a safe haven for people who committed accidental murder, allowing them to escape from the avenger of blood until they could stand trial before the assembly.

Numbers 35:9-12 Then the Lord said to Moses: “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.

If someone unintentionally killed another person without evil intention, they had the opportunity to stand trial. However, the avenger of blood had the right to seek revenge and could put the murderer to death.

Numbers 35:16-21 “‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death. If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet.

The cities of refuge were thus established by God to protect those who killed accidentally from being unjustly punished.

According to God’s command, unintentional murderers had to remain in the cities of refuge until the death of the high priest (Numbers 35:22-25). If a person entered the city just before the high priest died, they could leave the city shortly after his death. On the other hand, if the high priest was young and lived for many years, the person would have to stay in the city for a longer time.

Understanding Our Role as Aliens and Strangers on Earth

The concept of the cities of refuge helps us understand our place in this world. The Bible describes us as “aliens and strangers on earth”, indicating that this world is not our true home and that we are here only temporarily.

Hebrews 11:13 (NIV 1984) All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

Before we were born into this world, we existed with God in heaven, rejoicing each day (Proverbs 8:22-30; Job 38:1-3, 21). Just as we might long to return home while away for work or study, the Bible says that we yearn for a better, heavenly country.

Hebrews 11:15-16 (NIV 1984) If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

This longing indicates that our true home is in heaven.

Earth as the City of Refuge

If we lived in heaven with God, rejoicing every day and free from pain and sorrow (Revelation 21:4), why would we come to this suffering-filled world? It seems unlikely that we came here voluntarily. According to the Bible, God provided an answer by coming to this world as Jesus two thousand years ago. Jesus taught that our being lost from heaven is due to our sins (Luke 19:10; Matthew 9:13).(Supplementary reading: The Reason We Came to This Earth.)

Understanding this, we see the earth as a temporary refuge for sinners awaiting judgment. Even though we don’t remember our sins in heaven, the Bible states that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), highlighting the seriousness of our sins. Therefore, our existence on earth reflects our sinful nature. In this sense, the earth serves as a spiritual city of refuge, offering temporary protection before judgment.

When to Leave the City of Refuge

The Old Testament system of cities of refuge serves as a shadow of a greater reality: this earth, which functions as our spiritual city of refuge. In the Old Testament, murderers stayed in the city until the death of the high priest. This signifies that there is a high priest in our world, and through his death, we can leave this spiritual refuge and return to our true home. The Bible identifies Jesus as this high priest.

Hebrews 5:8-10 (NIV 1984) Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus’ sacrifice was essential for our salvation. Without the death of the high priest, Jesus, we cannot return to our heavenly home.

Redemption Through the Death of the High Priest

We came to this world because of our sins, and we need forgiveness to return to heaven. In the Old Testament system of cities of refuge, murderers could return home only after the death of the high priest. This system illustrates how forgiveness of sins is connected to the high priest’s death. Similarly, through the death of Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven.

The Bible teaches that we are redeemed through Jesus’ blood and that there is no other means of redemption.

Ephesians 1:7 (NIV 1984) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace…

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NIV 1984) For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.

Two thousand years ago, on the Feast of Passover, Jesus established the New Covenant using bread and wine which represent His body and blood (Luke 22:20). He taught that this New Covenant is for the forgiveness of our sins. (Supplementary reading: The Passover Is the Truth That Saves.)

We can see Jesus’ immense love for us through His sacrifice. His sacrifice was to establish the New Covenant. This covenant gives us redemption and allows us, who are like prisoners seeking refuge, return to our spiritual home. By following Jesus’ teachings and taking part in the feast of the New Covenant Passover, we can ensure our return to our eternal home in heaven.