Joshua 20:3
“That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.”
When God established Israel’s infrastructure, He commanded Joshua that cities of refuge be established for the person who kills “any person unawares and unwittingly.” This city was their refuge from the “avenger of blood.” It was the place where they could go and get a just trial to show their innocence from intentionally killing an individual.
The key I want you to notice from this verse and about the person who killed someone is that they fled. This verse says about the killer that they “may flee thither.” You see, if this person weren’t guilty of anything, they would not have to flee. The whole reason they fled is because they were guilty of killing a person. The point of this devotional is that it doesn’t matter that they unwittingly killed someone, it is the fact that their guilt is what caused them to flee.
Proverbs 28:1 says, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” A person has nothing to run from if they are not guilty. Yet, there are many times people run when they know that they are guilty of doing something wrong. If your conscience is clear, you will be as “bold as a lion.” You have nothing to fear when you are innocent; however, a person’s guilt is what causes them to flee. Let me pose several questions to you.
If you are right, why do you flee from authority? People who know they are wrong will avoid the authorities in their lives. When you avoid authorities, you are revealing your guilt. If you’re right, you have nothing to fear with authorities because your conscience is clear. If what you say you are doing is right, why do you avoid those authorities who could help you do what you say you are supposed to do. The only reason a person avoids their pastor is because they are hiding something from him. The only reason a person avoids authorities is because they know they are wrong.
If you are right, why are you running from a church that preaches the truth? For many years, I have heard the excuses as to why people are leaving a church, but I have always found that the excuse is only a diversion of the real cause that they left. Most people don’t leave churches because a church is compromising, though there are times when they do, most people leave churches because they have a spiritual issue that they don’t want others to discover.
If you are right, why are you running from your loved ones? I’m always amazed how young people try to hide relationships from their parents. My friend, if your relationship with someone is right, you won’t have to continue that relationship in secrecy. If that relationship is right, you should want your family to know about it.
Christian, stop running and come clean. There is no reason to run if you are right. Running from those who disagree with you never makes a situation better; it only makes the situation worse. What you must realize is that God sees what you are doing, and running from those who represent Him in your life doesn’t hide it from Him. The answer to a clear conscience is to stop running and get right. Always remember that the person you are running from is not who you answer to, but you answer to God. If you get right with God, you won’t have to run.