Day 86: When we make mistakes – Deuteronomy 4 vs 41 – 49

41-43 Moses set apart three cities of refuge east of the Jordan River. Anyone who killed another person unintentionally, without previous hostility, could flee there ‘to save their life’. These were the cities: Bezer on the wilderness plateau for the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead for the tribe of Gad; Golan in Bashan for the tribe of Manasseh.

44-47 This is the body of instruction that Moses presented to the Israelites. These are the laws, decrees, and regulations that Moses gave to the people of Israel when they left Egypt, and as they camped in the valley near Beth-peor east of the Jordan River. (This land was formerly occupied by the Amorites under King Sihon, who ruled from Heshbon. But Moses and the Israelites destroyed him and his people when they came up from Egypt. Israel took possession of his land and that of King Og of Bashan - the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan.)

48-49 So Israel conquered the entire area from Aroer at the edge of the Arnon Gorge all the way to Mount Sirion, also called Mount Hermon. And they conquered the eastern bank of the Jordan River as far south as the Dead Sea, below the slopes of Pisgah. Deuteronomy 4:41-49 New Living Translation

Accidents do happen! Sometimes they occur when people may've just being fooling around, but even then, the result can be serious. There was no official Police department in those days so people would take it into their own hands to dish out justice. The danger was they might do so without knowing all the facts of what actually happened. So if someone unintentionally caused the death of a person they knew that very soon relatives would be after them to avenge the blood that had been shed.

That's the background to vs 41-43. Three cities were designated as 'sanctuary cities' for the Israelite tribes who'd received land on the Eastern side of the Jordan river. The people would then have a place nearby to which they could run for their lives, and the accident could be properly investigated. What does that tell us about God?

I'd suggest it shows that not only does God know our hearts well, and how quick we are to take matters into our own hands, but also that He is wise and perfectly fair. He gave instructions so that people could be given a chance to explain their side of what happened. God cares about justice. Years later one of the big accusations the prophets made against the people of Israel was that they'd forgotten justice. Judges were taking bribes and showing favouritism. Sadly, it still happens in our time too.

The rest of the reading was a bit of a geography lesson where we are told something of the region that God enabled Israel to possess. It reminds us that the Bible is set in real history. It's not an imaginary land like the Harry Potter stories. It was also a reminder for Israel of how God had given them victory over foes who were stronger than they were. But what does the first part of vs 44-47 tell us Moses did as the people camped in that region?

We see that he taught them things God had revealed to him to show them how God wanted them to live in the land He had given them. We'll be seeing those things as we read more of Deuteronomy, but it's good to remember that God wasn't giving them these rules so that they could make Him love them. He already loved them and had brought them out of slavery in Egypt. These rules were for their sake and for their good. (Just like the rule about cities of sanctuary).

As Christians, though, we have something even better. Jesus said: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Jesus is our sanctuary from sin – even ones we did intentionally. And He is also our teacher who makes God's ways known to our heart. And His ways are not a burden – they are for our blessing.