Did you catch it? The cities of refuge weren’t just for Israelites. They were also for “the stranger sojourning among them.” The foreigner enjoyed the same access, the same protection, the same refuge as God’s chosen people.
This is revolutionary. In a world divided by nationality, ethnicity, and social status, God declares that anyone, regardless of background, has access to refuge. The outsider has the same rights as the insider. The stranger is welcomed just like the native-born.
This foreshadows the gospel reaching all nations. Ephesians 2:13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” We who were strangers, foreigners, outsiders, have been brought near. We have access to the same refuge.
There’s a wideness to God’s mercy that should challenge us. The cities of refuge were accessible to everyone, and so is Christ. The gospel isn’t just for people who look like us, talk like us, or think like us. It’s not just for the churched or the put-together. It’s for everyone who runs to Jesus.
This should change how we view people different from us. The immigrant, the refugee, the outsider in our community, they all bear God’s image. They all need refuge. And if God makes His refuge accessible to all, shouldn’t we do the same?
Are we reflecting God’s heart for all people? Are we making sure that everyone knows they have access to Christ? Or have we created exclusive communities where only certain people feel welcome?