The Gate of Justice

This powerful message takes us deep into Joshua chapter 20, exploring the ancient cities of refuge and revealing how they foreshadow God's ultimate plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. In Old Testament times, these six cities served as safe havens for those who accidentally killed someone, protecting them from the 'avenger of blood' until justice could be properly served. But there's something profoundly beautiful happening here that goes far beyond ancient legal systems. These cities represent God's heart of justice and mercy working together in perfect harmony. When we examine the process—the fleeing to the gate, the pleading of one's case before the elders, the dwelling within the city until the death of the high priest—we see a stunning parallel to our own salvation journey. We are all guilty before a holy God, pursued by the consequences of our sin, desperately in need of refuge. The gate of pleading becomes our confession, where we honestly acknowledge our guilt and cry out for mercy. The gate of pardon is where God's grace meets us, not because we deserve it, but because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And remarkably, just as the manslayer could only leave the city of refuge after the high priest died, we find eternal freedom because our Great High Priest, Jesus, has already died—and risen again, never to die anymore. This means we dwell in His refuge forever. The message challenges us to examine whether we've truly fled to this place of safety or if we're still standing outside the gate, held back by pride or self-sufficiency. It's a call to radical honesty with God about our condition and our desperate need for a Savior.