Joshua 20

A place to run

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses.” ~ Joshua 20:2

Where do you run when life hits hard, when you make a mistake, or when pressure starts closing in from every side?  In today’s reading, God instructed the Israelites to establish cities of refuge. These were not random places, they were intentional spaces of safety, where someone could run in a moment of distress and find protection. It was a place where they would not be condemned immediately, but given time, space, and protection.

This wasn’t just about physical safety, it reveals the heart of God. Even under the law, He made a way for mercy. He made a way for people to run toward safety instead of away in fear.

As children of God in the world today, we don’t run to a physical city when things are tough, we run straight to a living Savior. Jesus is our refuge. He is our safe place in every situation, whether we are overwhelmed, hurting, or even dealing with the weight of our own mistakes. The question is not whether a place of refuge exists, the question is, are we running to it.

Here are three powerful truths to hold onto and live out daily:

1. God has already provided a place of refuge for you

The cities of refuge were established before they were ever needed. God, in His wisdom, made provision ahead of time.  In the same way, God has already provided everything you need through Jesus. You don’t have to figure out where to go when life becomes overwhelming, He has already made the way.

Turn to Him first instead of last when life is hard. When you receive bad news or feel anxious, instead of immediately trying to fix it or carry it on your own, pause and go to Him in prayer. Say, Lord, I need Your peace right now.  Then allow yourself to rest in His presence.

2. You have to choose to run to the right place

The cities of refuge were available, but the person had to make the decision to run to them. Staying where they were was not an option if they wanted safety.  It is the same for us. We can try to run to distractions, people, or our own understanding, but true peace is only found by committing everything to the Lord Jesus.

Be intentional about where you go in times of stress. If you feel overwhelmed, instead of numbing out with distractions, take time to step away, spend time with God, and let Him speak into your situation. Choosing Him in those moments changes everything.

3. Refuge is not just protection, it is restoration

The city of refuge was not just about escaping danger, it was about being held in a place where restoration and rebuilding could begin.  When you run to God, He doesn’t just cover you, He restores you. He heals your heart, renews your mind, and gives you direction for what’s next.

Stay in His presence long enough to receive what He wants to give you. If you are dealing with guilt or regret, don’t just ask for forgiveness and move on quickly. Sit with Him, receive His grace, and allow Him to remind you of who you are in Him and the purpose for your life.

I remember one of the first times I was dealing with a crisis after one of my children became an adult. I wanted to help them so badly, and I desperately wanted to fix everything for them. I tried to carry the weight of their struggle and take control of the situation, but no matter what I did, I couldn’t fix it.

When I finally went to God about it, I started with, “Oh Lord, I don’t know what to do. How am I going to help them and fix this situation?” I poured everything out to my heavenly Father, but at first, I didn’t feel any resolve or peace.

Then, something began to shift in my spirit. It reminded me of how God had brought me through every other difficult situation in my life. In that moment, I stopped speaking out of fear and said out loud, We are going to get through this the same way we always have and that is by trusting God and taking one step of faith at a time until we get to the other side.

That’s when it settled in my heart and probably the first time, I understood that God rarely removes the problems we face in life. More often, He walks us through each situation we face, giving us wisdom, direction, and strength along the way and leading us to overcome all the way to victory.

Today I want to encourage you to run to the refuge that God has already provided for you. You don’t have to carry the weight, you don’t have to figure it all out, and you don’t have to stay stuck in fear or uncertainty. He is your safe place, your peace, and your restoration. Run to Him quickly, stay with Him, and trust that He will meet you right where you are and lead you through to your breakthrough.

Today’s scripture reading: Joshua 20

1 The Lord also spoke to Joshua, saying, 

2 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Appoint for yourselves cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 

3 that the slayer who kills a person accidentally or unintentionally may flee there; and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 

4 And when he flees to one of those cities, and stands at the entrance of the gate of the city, and declares his case in the hearing of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city as one of them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them. 

5 Then if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not deliver the slayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unintentionally, but did not hate him beforehand. 

6 And he shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the slayer may return and come to his own city and his own house, to the city from which he fled.’ ”

7 So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee, in the mountains of Naphtali, Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron) in the mountains of Judah. 

8 And on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plain, from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. 

9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwelt among them, that whoever killed a person accidentally might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood until he stood before the congregation.

Journal:

• Where do I usually run first when I feel overwhelmed or pressured
• Is there something I have been trying to handle on my own instead of bringing to God
• What does it look like for me to run to God first in my current situation
• How can I create space in my day to rest in His presence and receive His peace