Joshua 20:1-3 (ESV Strong's)
The Cities of Refuge
Then the Lord said to Joshua,
“Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses,
that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood.
Subject: The Justice of God
In the above verse we see God reminding Joshua to establish the Cities of Refuge. In the Law, Moses was instructed by God, that when the nation reached the Promise Land, they were to establish cities of asylum for someone who accidentally caused the death of another. If, in the event of a death, the person who committed the death, came to one of the cities (Joshua establishes six throughout the Promise Land), that person could find refuge until the Elders of that city could determine if the death was by accident (our modern day "manslaughter" case), or was by intent (our modern day "homicide" case). God wanted to be sure that, in the event of a death, the loved one of the deceased would not be able to exact their own form of justice. The Understanding the Bible Commentary of the Old Testament has a great application of this text:
(UBC OT) Setting aside cities of refuge teaches an important lesson about God. The God of Israel believes in the right of all to a fair trial and has created places of asylum to protect the accused from rash anger or revenge. God believes in due process and protects even potential criminals from retribution. God’s protection stretches to all but the most flagrant, violent criminals. Vigilante revenge is no substitute for justice by due process.
God is a God of Justice. Hot anger is not acceptable to God. God so understood the "reaction" of men, that He established the Cities of Refuge to assure that this "hot anger" would not cause more sin. God established the Cities of Refuge in His grace for both the person who caused the death AND for the loved one who suffered lost. God's Justice is a picture of His grace.
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