the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Numbers 35:1-15
In this land of Canaan, within the boundaries that have just been drawn, each tribe will receive its possession with the exception of the sons of Levi. In accordance with Jacob’s prophecy, these would be dispersed in Israel because of the wicked conduct of their father (Genesis 49:7). But, by the grace of God, this punishment will be turned to blessing. Forty-eight towns distributed through all Israel will be allocated to the sons of Levi. Each tribe will have to give some to them in proportion to their inheritance. Thus these Levites, servants of the LORD and of their brethren, charged in particular with the teaching of the law, will be led by reason of their dispersion to exercise their ministry for the benefit of all the people.
Next there is the matter of the cities of refuge for the manslayer. The law in all its severity called for blood, whether it had been shed intentionally, from hatred, or on the other hand involuntarily. But to meet this last case, the LORD, at the same time as the law, had given a promise (read Exodus 21:12-13). He had undertaken to provide a shelter to which the one responsible for the death of another would be entitled to flee to save his life. This is a fine illustration of the refuge that God offers to the guilty sinner, reminding us that "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:4).
