66 Ways God Loves You Sample

In Numbers God Shelters Me in Cities of Refuge

When God divvied up the promised land among the tribes of His chosen people, He gave the Levites forty-eight towns. Six of those towns were chosen by God to be cities of refuge. These cities were to be places where anyone could flee for safety if they were wrongly accused or running for their life.

God told Moses, “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” (Numbers 35:11–12). In other words, even though these were Hebrew cities, their gates were open to anyone who needed their safety. “Israelites and... foreigners living among them” (35:15) could find shelter there.

Cities of refuge are a picture of God’s loving shelter for all of us. God made a place for us when we were needy and accused by hiding us safely in His unconditional love and forgiveness. Just as the cities of refuge invited all into their gates, so God does the same for us.

We all need a city of refuge—a safe place where we know we are protected and welcome. God’s unconditional love has become our city of refuge. When we run to Him, He welcomes us in, defends our honor, protects us, and preserves our lives.

If you need a refuge, Jesus says, “The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out” (John 6:37 nkjv). He will be the wall that surrounds you, the shelter that protects you. Run to Him for refuge today. Ask Him to shelter you in His unconditional, unfailing, unending love. “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid” (Psalm 46:1–2 hcsb).