From Joshua 20

Many people describe God in the Old Testament as angry, punitive, vengeful, and violent while they describe God in the New Testament as calm, merciful, gracious, and kind.  That oversimplification can lead to thinking almost that the Old Testament God and the New Testament God somehow totally different entities.  But an oversimplification is exactly what those distinctions are.  None of them are necessarily false, but none of them are exclusive to the Old Testament or the New Testament.  God demonstrates anger in the Old Testament and Jesus conveys anger in the New Testament.  God punishes sin in the Old Testament and Jesus accepts the punishment for sin on our behalf in the New Testament.  Jesus is merciful and gracious in the New Testament and God shows His people forgiveness and creates room for grace repeatedly in the Old Testament.

The reading for today gives us one example of that Old Testament grace.  God recognizes that there are some instances where the punishment for a crime should be less immediate so that there is time for a balanced judgement. So He commands Israel to create cities where people can go to when they commit accidental crimes (specifically resulting in the loss of human life) to be safe until they can go before the congregation for judgement.  This would protect them from the immediate retaliation and, if the congregation determines it was an accident, the person would be able to go back to their lives.  This shows God’s mercy, even in the Old Testament, because even accidental sin is still sin, yet God provides a way for grace to be administered in those situations.  This can also remind us that God has set a precedent of His community treating accidental sins differently.  When people in our own lives sin against us without deliberate intent, God would encourage us to respond with grace and understanding – not with a grudge and retaliation.

Focus on God

We are reminded in these verses that God is gracious throughout Scripture, throughout the story of everything – even up to today.

Function in Our Lives

We are encouraged to give people the benefit of the doubt and have a default stance of grace.

Topics to Pray About                                                               

  • Thank God for His merciful nature.
  • Confess to God the times where you hold grudges over accidental sins against you.
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in forgiveness.

In His Service,

J. LeBorious