Numbers 34-36
Want to see a map of the borders of the Promised Land?! My husband, Bill Schlegel, wrote the Satellite Bible Atlas (available on Amazon). It’s filled with real photographed maps that he’s added the sites and commentary to. (Sounds like the way I’m doing these devotionals, but he’s much more articulate;). You can go further in depth to your Bible readings with this atlas to help, especially in the upcoming books of the judges and kings. 🙂 He wrote it for the students to use on field trips and classes in Israel.
In the midst of defining the border, God appointed cities for refuge for within. “These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there.” (35:15) Those must’ve been interesting cities with innocent and guilty persons awaiting judgment. Some probably took advantage of them and for others they found refuge they needed .
Nowadays our homes can be a place of refuge. As a mother of five I can testify to that, receiving family members after long days of work, sporting events, school, and other hard tasks. It’s comforting to find refuge in one’s home and provide that for others too looking for peace.
A hammer can build things up and it can tear things down. “The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.” Proverbs 14:1 It’s important we use our tools to build and help others rather than tear them down.
Another place we can greatly find refuge is in God. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10 Especially after coming to the one God faith this verse means so much more to me. His personal name YHVH/LORD is strong and stable, mentioned some 6,828x in the Old Testament. That’s one out of every four verses making it 25% of the time. It’s powerful just seeing it so many times. Reading the Bible on a regular basis helps one to refocus and gain strength and peace. We can take refuge in God and His Word.
-Stephanie Schlegel
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Where do you find refuge on a daily basis? How has it brought you relief?
2. Is your home a place of refuge for others? Maybe there’s a hurting person you can invite over this weekend to share a meal or coffee with?
3. Is the name of the LORD/YHVH a strong tower for you? What’s a way that could improve that even more?
Seek Grow Love 