“You shall set apart three cities for yourselves in the land that the LORD your God is giving you…This is the provision for the manslayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbor unintentionally without having hated him in the past…he may flee to one of these cities and live, lest the avenger of blood in hot anger pursue the manslayer and overtake him.” Deuteronomy 19:2, 4-6
Our God is such an intentional provider. He doesn’t scramble to make provisions for us—He already has everything set in place. Because He knew all that would happen before it ever entered our minds. He has written each of our days. He knows our story. Our past and how it has affected our hearts. Our present and how we struggle with daily circumstances. Our future and all that we will face. So He knows exactly what we will need. And He has promised to provide it, to be faithful every single time.
This passage in Deuteronomy focuses on establishing cities of refuge for those who accidentally take a life. It’s an example to me of how perfectly God plans everything out. He didn’t bring the Israelites into the Promised Land and then let them figure things out from there. No, He spelled out for them what their nation would look like—the nation whose God was the LORD, the people that He had chosen to bear His name and serve Him and bring His light to the world. They were to be a people who honored Him in all their ways, and He was specific in what that meant for their daily lives.
This command to set apart cities of refuge for the manslayer reminds us that God doesn’t miss a detail. His commands for the Israelites as they prepare to go into the land He promised to give them cover all kinds of situations. Provisions for the Levites, for the manslayer, laws regarding witnesses and property boundaries, laws for worship and marriage and war. Our God cares about each circumstance we encounter. He sees it all. And He has already set in place your provision. Whether you are in need of refuge; guidance; wisdom; healing; money to pay your bills; the ability to forgive, surrender, or repent—He will pour out all that you need. You just need to look to Him. Stay focused on Christ, striving to honor and obey and love Him with all that you are. He will be faithful to strengthen, provide, and restore.
