(Joshua 20 & 21) “Cities of Refuge”

Published 9 October 2025

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Designed for Personal Bible Study or for Bible Teaching

1️⃣ Confusing refuge with avoidance—refuge is for justice, not for escaping it (Josh. 20:1–6).
2️⃣ Treating emotions (shame/fear) as final verdicts instead of seeking due process (Josh. 20:4–6).
3️⃣ Overlooking accessibility—God placed cities of refuge strategically across the land (Josh. 20:7–8).
4️⃣ Neglecting the role of elders and assembly in discerning truth (Josh. 20:4).
5️⃣ Forgetting the Levites were planted to serve everywhere, not to own one region (Josh. 21).

1️⃣ Failure to offer refuge—families/communities reacting with rebuke before listening (Josh. 20:4–6).
2️⃣ Failure to protect the vulnerable while truth is still being tested (Josh. 20:5).
3️⃣ Failure to recognize God’s design in scattering spiritual leadership across every tribe (Josh. 21:1–3).
4️⃣ Failure to align compassion with accountability—embrace both, not one against the other (Josh. 20:4–6).
5️⃣ Failure to remember that God finishes what He starts—promises kept bring order and peace (Josh. 21:43–45).

1️⃣ Vengeance as instinct—seeking blood before truth (Josh. 20:5).
2️⃣ Injustice—refusing a hearing at the gate (Josh. 20:4).
3️⃣ Indifference—ignoring the terrified who run to us for refuge.
4️⃣ Contempt—despising the Levite calling and the presence of worship among us (Num. 3; Num. 4).
5️⃣ Unbelief—doubting that God truly keeps every promise (Josh. 21:43–45).

1️⃣ God’s mercy codified—refuge for accidental manslayers (Josh. 20:1–6).
2️⃣ Strategic compassion—six cities placed across the land for accessibility (Josh. 20:7–8).
3️⃣ Due process upheld—elders and assembly hear cases (Josh. 20:4–6).
4️⃣ Levites embedded—spiritual leadership scattered among every tribe (Josh. 21:1–3).
5️⃣ Promises fulfilled—land, rest, victory, faithfulness all realized (Josh. 21:43–45).

1️⃣ Be a refuge—offer listening, safety, and time for truth to surface (Josh. 20:4–6).
2️⃣ Hold grace and justice together—mercy first, accountability next (Josh. 20:5–6).
3️⃣ Live “scattered on purpose”—see your address as God’s assignment (Josh. 21).
4️⃣ Trust God’s timing—He completes what He begins (Josh. 21:43–45).
5️⃣ Practice due process in relationships—hear fully before you judge (Josh. 20:4).

1️⃣ Design for access—place “refuge” within reach of everyone you lead (Josh. 20:7–8).
2️⃣ Build systems that protect the innocent while truth is tested (Josh. 20:4–6).
3️⃣ Empower distributed leadership—like Levites, seed trusted people everywhere (Josh. 21:1–3).
4️⃣ Keep worship central—leaders serve best near the presence of God (Tabernacle context).
5️⃣ Celebrate completions—mark and communicate when God fulfills His promises (Josh. 21:43–45).