S3E279 – Numbers 33-36: He Is Our Refuge

Transcript Podcast Introduction Today is Monday, and we’ll complete the book of Numbers with chapters 33-36.  After the reading I have some comments for you, I have an on this date in church history for you. And I have a VERY exciting praise in our prayer segment, as well. I’m calling today’s episode “He Is Our Refuge.” Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Matthew Rumph on Unsplash Comments on Numbers 35 To our 21st century western culture minds, the concept of cities of refuge seems very foreign, but in the culture of Israel when these words were written, this was something that was needed. Each family group had an avenger who would carry out the Genesis 9:6 proclamation, which says, “Whoever shed’s man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God, God made man.” Here in Numbers 35, a detailed plan was shown that dealt with the situation where a person committed a killing that was accidental, and not premeditated murder, could find a place of safety from an avenger. I won’t review the details of the plan, because we just read them. What I want to do is show how this concept of the refuge cities is a foreshadowing, or type, of Jesus. First, there are many scriptures that refer to God as being our refuge. Here are a few: Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Psalm 91:2 – I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” Psalm 18:2 – The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Hebrews 6:18 – That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. Where do we flee for refuge? To Jesus. Cities of refuge were located throughout Israel so that those who needed refuge would be able to easily make their way to them. Jesus is only a prayer away. Cities of refuge were open to anyone, not just the Jew, but to all. Jesus came that anyone who asks will find salvation. Cities of refuge were places where the one in need could live permanently. A relationship with Jesus is eternal. Cities of refuge were the only place a person could find safety. Without them, death was sure. Only in Jesus, do we find eternal life. Outside of the cities of refuge, there was no protection. Outside of Jesus, there is no salvation. Only when the high priest died was the person freed from the threat of death by the avenger. Jesus, our High Priest, died on a cross to bring our freedom. And there is one huge difference between cities of refuge and Jesus. You had to be innocent to live in a city of refuge. Jesus accepts the guilty, and removes all guilt and sin. Hallelujah and amen! Jesus is the only way to freedom, to peace, to live with the assurance that we will never have to pay the penalty for our transgressions, if we have confessed our need of Him and invited Him to be our Savior, and accepted His gift of salvation. He is our refuge. Today’s Bible Translation Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 33 NKJV; Ch. 34 CEV; Ch. 35 NIV; Ch. 36 NLT Support This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT. Transcript Download .txt file STEVE WEBB – 0:00It was something that was needed. INTRO S12E285 – 0:09And it’s the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Hi there. I’m your OG Godcaster, podcasting since 2004, and my name is Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Monday, and we’ll complete the book of Numbers with chapters 33 through 36. After the reading I’ve got some comments for you, I have an On This Date in Church History, and I have a very exciting praise in our prayer segment too. I’m calling today’s episode, “He is Our Refuge”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e285. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started. NUMBERS 33 (NKJV) – 0:51Numbers, chapter 33. (1) These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. (2) Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points: (3) They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians. (4) For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them. Also on their gods the Lord had executed judgment. (5) Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses and camped at Succoth. (6) They departed from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. (7) They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, which is east of Baal Zephon; and they camped near Migdol. (8) They departed from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, went three days’ journey in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah. (9) They moved from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there. (10) They moved from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. (11) They moved from the Red Sea and camped in the Wilderness of Sin. (12) They journeyed from the Wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah. (13) They departed from Dophkah and camped at Alush. (14) They moved from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink. (15) They departed from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai. (16) They moved from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah. (17) They departed from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. (18) They departed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah. (19) They departed from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez. (20) They departed from Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah. (21) They moved from Libnah and camped at Rissah. (22) They journeyed from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah. (23) They went from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher. (24) They moved from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. (25) They moved from Haradah and camped at Makheloth. (26) They moved from Makheloth and camped at Tahath. (27) They departed from Tahath and camped at Terah. (28) They moved from Terah and camped at Mithkah. (29) They went from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah. (30) They departed from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth. (31) They departed from Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan. (32) They moved from Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Hagidgad. (33) They went from Hor Hagidgad and camped at Jotbathah. (34) They moved from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah. (35) They departed from Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber. (36) They moved from Ezion Geber and camped in the Wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. (37) They moved from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom. (38) Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the Lord, and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. (39) Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor. (40) Now the king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel. (41) So they departed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah. (42) They departed from Zalmonah and camped at Punon. (43) They departed from Punon and camped at Oboth. (44) They departed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, at the border of Moab. (45) They departed from Ijim and camped at Dibon Gad. (46) They moved from Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim. (47) They moved from Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. (48) They departed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. (49) They camped by the Jordan, from Beth Jesimoth as far as the Abel Acacia Grove in the plains of Moab. (50) Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying, (51) “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, (52) then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; (53) you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess. (54) And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone’s inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. (55) But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. (56) Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’ ” NUMBERS 34 (CEV) – 6:17Numbers, chapter 34. (1) The Lord told Moses (2) to tell the people of Israel that their land in Canaan would have the following borders: (3) The southern border will be the Zin Desert and the northwest part of Edom. This border will begin at the south end of the Dead Sea. (4) It will go west from there,...