We have come to Deuteronomy 19 in our COME AS A CHILD BIBLE STUDY. This chapter speaks of cities of refuge.
Ironically, there is lots of talk in today’s modern culture about “cities of refuge” or “sanctuary cities.” Some so called cities have come to be formed in larger cities across America. Each of these has it’s own story (or stories) to tell. None of them are experiencing the same experiences. The definition of “refuge” or “sanctuary” seems to be different for different groups of local cultures at different times.
Results of these experiences have been chaotic in nature. Still there is this huge effort to keep progressing on.
Has any good been done in spite of the chaos?
We will let these cities continue to tell their stories in their own ways. One day we will look back and know.
THE MODERN AND THE ANCIENT
It would be beneficial to look at the differences between the ancient concepts for cities of refuge and what is called a “sanctuary” city of today.
I’ll let you decide what it was (all those years ago in the ancient forming of Israel) that God truly wanted to happen with this concept called “sanctuary.”
We will let Him and the search of His Word sort out the misconceptions that have happened along the way over time.
Let’s examine the scripture passage first:
Deuteronomy 19:19 – When the LORD your God has destroyed the nations whose land he is giving you, and when you have driven them out and settled in their towns and houses, then set aside for your selves three cities in the land the LORD your God is giving you to process. Determine the distances involved and divide into three parts the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that a person who kills someone may flee for refuge to one of these cities.
A CONVENIENT, EASY TO REACH PLACE TO REST
So it seems in the ancient concept that three cities of refuge were to be set up in the land. They were to be in central, easy to access locations, with decent roads leading to them from many directions. This was so that a person who committed an unintentional sin (note the word “kill” as opposed to “murder”) could go there and seek refuge until a fair trial could be set without prejudice in a place that would not be biased against the person seeking refuge.
I can think of numerous examples of how this would be useful today; especially for those seeking justice and equitable treatment involving matters of race and/or sexual discrimination. Naturally; the land where the crime happened would not be the best place for such a trial to be held.
ANCIENT WAYS WERE TO INCREASE JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS
The ancient cities of refuge that God was having them to declare and set up were all about justice and fairness. This type of arrangement would prevent street mobs and people with political agendas from stripping an innocent person of their rights and privileges.
The subject person would be declared innocent unless positive proof was presented that the death was intentional and not unintentional.
Restitution could be paid to the people or person who suffered from these unintended actions (perhaps a child had been orphaned or a wife was now forced to survive without the help of her husband.)
IT WASN’T ABOUT RUNNING AWAY TO HIDE
Justice was served; but legally and fairly and with the common good in mind instead of emotional people carrying wrong agendas to promote personal causes and grabbing every opportunity to flaunt their agenda in such a time as this.
The city of refuge was not about running away from justice; it was about achieving fair and impartial justice. If someone in a small town accidentally hit someone with a rock; not knowing that they were walking through the field where they were throwing rocks, and that person died; it would be hard for the locals in that place to accept the truth; that it was an accident. An unbiased audience might easily understand the truth.
After all; the person was just in an open field throwing rocks. He had no idea that the most beloved character in the community would come along and get between him and the rock he was throwing. There was no intention, no motive, no method to this killing; it was an accident; but the local people, possibly being shocked and left in great grief would not want to believe that this was true.
People always want to “do something” about the things that hurt them; even if what they want to do is unjust. This is human nature.
The person who committed the rock throwing would need an unbiased audience to hear their story and they would need a place to hide and live in protection until this could happen. Otherwise, the family and friends of the beloved dead citizen would rise up against them and convict them without a court hearing.
Sounds pretty ancient; huh?
CONSIDER THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES OF TODAY
Actually; a lot of this has a more modern day social justice ring to it. Such things are happening constantly in our society and culture today. The culture is constantly making judgments without waiting on the wheels of justice to turn properly. This is a flaw in what we have come to call “social justice.”
Usually, the person involved has no opportunity to prove his innocence once the media, the advocacy groups, the demonstrators that stand by just waiting on another reason to disrupt society with another revolution begin to make their noise.
They walk in large organized groups and riot in cities similar to an old-fashioned lynching party.
In the end; the party injured is not as remembered. The cause that the people rioting are putting forth in their name seems to now be the focus. They simply use the names and faces of innocent victims to arouse emotions and support.
It is easy to use a dead person to promote a political agenda; they cannot speak out for themselves and present the whole facts.
IF THE INNOCENT VOICES OF THE DEAD COULD SPEAKE
God knew these methods would be wrong. He could see the ugly hate inside our hearts. We can’t hide it.
Our Father; God knew how things would be way back when he first started forming the first godly nation; and that was why He asked his people to kindly set aside three cities with rules for handling such things.
The use of “sanctuary” has changed today. In Israel’s first forming of a nation; sanctuary was set aside for those who accidentally committed a crime. A person could flee to these cities to find true justice.
FROM A FORM OF TEMPORARY PROTECTION TO A FORM OF PERMANENT SHELTER
Today seeking “sanctuary” isn’t about accidently committing a crime; it is about refuge from very intentional and planned-out crimes; mostly illegal immigration.
The USA has MANY places of refuge where an illegal alien may flee for sanctuary to avoid being deported. I’m not saying this is wrong.
Why would anyone want to deport someone who came to America hoping to find a better future? Aren’t we the land of the free and the home of the brave? Haven’t we always been a place for the poor, tired masses to find refuge?
But everyone overlooks the fact that America has changed drastically since those days in New York Harbor when the first immigrants came over to help to make our country great!
We have grown up and growing up requires responsibilities and reality checks.
What has changed about America from that time back in the beginning stages of America, when immigrants were proudly welcomed into our country and thanked for joining in with us?
The whole world has turned upside down since that time.
EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED
The world has developed in all kinds of ways. Some of the ways are not healthy or good. We’ve fought so many wars; over and over and over. We are very tired of wars and only want peace. Peace requires protection and security.
9/11 affected every heart in America.
We cannot forget how needlessly people suffered on that day. We will never again rule out the possibilities of terrorism creeping into our nation. Who wants to be so careless with the future?
EVERYTHING has changed.
FREEDOM ISN’T FREE FOR THE TAKING
Land has become over-priced and the value of owning property has skyrocketed. Populations have greatly increased making obtaining real estate much harder. The mighty nation that was once known mostly for farming; now scrambles around the stock market hoping to make enough pocket-change to feed the populations for the next year.
We’ve let our farmers fall on their faces. Our food sources are not the same. The expense of feeding a typical family of three or four is much different these days.
People must maintain steady jobs in order to take care of their needs. Only so many steady-well-paying jobs are out there.
Some fortunate, hard working people have managed to maintain jobs in industry that will provide for themselves and their families. However; the wave of people walking to our southwest borders (estimated to be at least 22 million) is full of high-tech and college educated people who are even more capable of doing these American jobs than the Americans who currently hold the positions.
This massive crowd of immigrants are marching hopefully toward the very foundations of the world’s that we all have worked so hard to make secure futures exist for our children and grandchildren.
They are walking away from sad cultures where they were not brave enough to stay, stand and fight back to defend their own rights. Yes; it might have been costly for them; but American’s too once gave their life blood for the things that they valued in order that we might be here today.
Freedom always comes with a cost. It isn’t free.
You are not fair when you ask others to give you rights to what they fought and died for when you had no idea what was going on.
THINKING OF THE FUTURE
These hungry, anxious immigrants want the same thing that we want – a secure future for their children and grandchildren; however – there is only so much to go around.
The land of opportunity has been used up.
Everyone has taken a piece of us and unlike those brave first immigrants who were willing to stand shoulder to shoulder and fight for liberty with us – that isn’t the case today. The seekers are merely seeking a better, easier way at our expense. They are not coming to join in as brothers with us. They are coming to replace us. The chaotic impact of so many at once may not be something we will be able to survive.
The on-slought of millions and millions without any rules or regulations is so unfair to those of us who have been living here all along. We have sympathy for their problems; but not so much so that we will give the futures of our children to their children.
Is that a fair thing to ask?
WILL WE TRADE THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR CHILDREN?
It isn’t that we don’t care about these millions; there just has be a better, more sensible way of helping them. We do pity their problems. Money and food and supplies are always being sent. Advocates and missionaries are always fighting for them; to no avail. And the groups are so diversified; some deserve our support and help but others only seek to destroy us.
How do you sort this out?
Instead of helping any of them; I fear total ruin for all of us over the long haul. It is a lose/lose proposition. No one has a future now.
One man in high office thinks this will be as simple as opening the borders and letting them walk in. There are false visions out there that this will solve the problem! He made the comment that a lot of what he is able to do to help them will depend on Congress and what they allow him to do.
Surely, Congress had a plan?
Right?
How will Congress address these populations with their educational needs, work-force demands, inhibiting tendencies and economically-straining situations?
New germs. More diseases. Haven’t we had enough pandemic?
Is there some magic key they can turn that will make it all work out for everyone?
DOES OUR GOVERNMENT NOT CARE ABOUT EVERYONE?
Is it possible that they truly don’t care about EVERYONE, but just these that they see who are presently suffering?
What is behind that? Perhaps that they will ride the horse of the victory of such people in a public way? Why? It has something to do with the lining of their own pockets and the promoting of their own causes.
SHOULD THE PRIVILEGED BE MADE DESTITUTE TO HELP THE NEEDY?
No; I’m sorry to say that our government DOES NOT care about EVERYONE.
Are you even surprised?
Should the privileged be made destitute to help the needy?
In the end of that scenario you will only have more of the needy. You will have one group that never had any privileges to start with; and another group that has been stripped of their privileges trying to survive together. All will be poor. All will be needy. All will be destitute.
Jesus told us that the poor will always be among us.
Excuse the pun; but you can take those words to the bank.
HOW CAN EVERYONE RISE OUT OF THE ASH HEAP?
How many can look past the poor and see God’s ways and take them and use them to rise up out of the ash heap? If this suggestion is made today, however, haters will start to point their boney fingers and their tongues will be saying “you white evangelical trash; we don’t need your opinion! Don’t you DARE mention God to us!”
It is a lose/lose proposition. Fortunately; true Christians do rise up and try. They don’t worry about what other people think of them; they simply keep doing what God tells them to do. They have been the ones caring for the poor and destitute all along.
Yes; we MUST care for the poor and help those who cannot help themselves; but we do not help by making more of the same and doubling the numbers.
So: way back when, God set up Cities of Refuge to help those who could not help themselves. Today’s American’s have been given a whole map full of such designated cities across America.
Have any of them actually been effective in fighting the issues?
Was the foundation of the plan laid wrong?
THOSE TENDER-HEARTED LIBERALS
Yet; I think a lot of people are feeling pretty smug, thinking they are finally doing something to help. They pat themselves on the back and they humbly talk to their neighbors and friends in low voices about what a good thing it is that is about to happen.
They are ignorant to the facts of human nature, and they truly do sleep better at night thinking they have made a contribution towards long-term peace.
They have come to believe their own lies.
Me, I’m more of an “on my knees kind of person” looking at the issues and asking God what to do about it. I don’t have the answers; but I KNOW He does!
I keep asking. I hope others keep asking. I think God wants the questions to be asked.
God knew what Israel needed; and surely He also knows exactly what we need today.
GOD KNOWS THE ANSWERS
We must keep pleading with him for the RIGHT answers. All of us (agreed or not) must keep studying and looking at the answers from the scriptures and the paths of old. We have to forget about how everything went wrong and dwell on the few things that are still right.
One of those things is that God is still in control.
Our friends, so wrapped up in their own self-righteousness, think we conservatives are all bigots and hatters. They make up pop names and call us White Supremist (though many of us are actually black and tan of skin) and they can’t stand to look at us or hear our stories full of questions about the future for our children, especially if we use the word “God” or have an association with certain “evangelicals.” If you want to see THEIR hate rise up; just invoke those two situations. It works like clockwork.
Our children and grandchildren have never mattered to them; they murder babies for profit. You can’t expect men to seek God’s answers to tough situations if they don’t even believe in God or hate when His name is called out loud in public places.
JUST ANOTHER GROUP FOR THE PREDITORS TO PREY UPON
Are these new people coming hopefully into our country not ripe to be just another under-voiced group of souls for them to harvest? They will use them for all they are worth until they have used them up. It will take time for such people to become acclimated and to develop a sense for what is real and what is right where they are in this new place.
The transition will be very, very hard and very costly for all.
TIME WILL MAKE ITS OWN ADJUSTMENTS
If nothing has to be legal now, and if all can come and go as they wish; what is to stop their constant stress for more and bigger and better science to suddenly find that population control is suddenly in order?
How will these new groups expecting to achieve assimilation react to this new reality later on down the road?
This part of their agenda and the laxness about immigration laws clash. Now how are the progressives going to fight this growing population problem that is coming to sit down on their own back porch?
They will use the ones that they champion in order to fulfill their greedy agendas. Smokescreens and the right words strategically timed to fit the cause.
One day these people too will “grow up” like those of us presently living comfortably in America. They will look back at where they came from and they will look around at what they have taken as their own.
Those who opened the gate and allowed them to come; will be seen for who they really are and the two groups will not be together in their thinking. You see one group is a bunch of dreamers. Sometimes dreams do come true. The other group is a bunch of controllers. They sit around counting fleas like a bunch of monkeys in trees; and they are fascinated with the act of trying to make everyone itch the same.
Who cares in the end?
Some of us prefer not to itch in the first place. We are not amused. We were created and we didn’t evolve; perhaps that has something to do with the matter.
All the same the groups that are pitted against each other in the political pawn games of those who won’t see the results of their own foolishness will one day look around and say: “Hey; we believe there is a better way.”
Was this what God intended when He set forth the idea of cities of refuge?
I think not.
But no one is asking God.
Liberal and Progressive politicians and their blind followers have used His name to make people think it is His will for this type of confusion and chaos to come on our country; but we all know that God would not bring confusion and disorder and call it “love.”
That is because He is God.
He is love; it is not the progressive democratic party that is destroying our country and silencing our voices.
The good part is that God is watching every move that is made.
He knows who to trust with eternity; and He is writing it down in his book.
So Eden sank to grief.
In the beginning of the forming of the nation of Israel God had a workable plan for governing the people. He still does. He will provide a refuge and a sanctuary somehow to led His people through these troubled times. Those who are not listening, or are very busy making fun of our beliefs will see the evidence of faith and they will no longer be able to prevail with their wickedness.
We The People must continue to trust and obey.