Refuge

There has been so many times in my life that my home has become a refuge from a harsh and cruel world. I just feel like I can come home and leave the problems and struggles somewhere else.

I love the story of the man who had a “trouble tree” in his front yard. Everyday when he came home from work, he would touch the tree (he was leaving his troubles there). Each morning when he’d head out to work, he would touch the tree again (pick up his troubles) and head to work.

I think everyone needs a place of refuge – a place of escape or shelter. Over the years as my children were small, my place of refuge was not quiet, but I loved getting away with my family.

The Lord provided cities of refuge for people who committed manslaughter. The person who accidently killed a person could flee to one of these cities for protection. Check this out…

22 ‘“But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally 23 or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, 24 the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. 25 The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with holy oil. (Numbers 35:22-25 NIV)

The city of refuge was to be a safe place.

The city of refuge had a job to do.

The city of refuge brought relief.

The city of refuge brought peace.

I’ve known people who were accused of really bad things and I could hardly imagine what life in public would be like for them. (They need a place of refuge.) I’ve also known people who had to make some really hard decisions regarding their company that caused people to loose jobs and their livelihood. (They need a place of refuge.) I simply need a quiet place to hear from the Lord – a place of refuge – where He can speak clearly into my heart directing my path.

Pressing On!

Dwayne