Refuge Places
All across the body of Christ people are hearing the Lord’s call to prepare Places of Refuge in preparation for the coming days. The vision is described in several ways: cities of refuge, places or refuge or refuge places, but the one ingredient they have in common is a vision of caring for hurting people in times of crisis.
As the shakings increase in intensity and frequency, there will be many families displaced from their homes and on the move. These Refuge Places will be a spiritual oasis for the displaced, a hand of compassion for the broken, and will at times, witness the supernatural provision and protection of the Lord.
They will differ in assignments, size, and location. Some will be located in rural areas with large tracts of land, others in a suburban setting, and some in the very heart of a city. The common bond these Refuge Places share, however, is caring for precious people in the hour of crisis, especially the least and the last.
While we recognize that this is an idea that the Holy Spirit is emphasizing across the body of Christ, we understand that, just like Joseph built Goshen in preparation of housing the Israelites, so we too must use practical wisdom and the skill sets God provides to build these Refuge Places today. We are utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit for guidance, creativity, strategy and the grace to move forward.
As the shakings increase in intensity and frequency, there will be many families displaced from their homes and on the move. These Refuge Places will be a spiritual oasis for the displaced, a hand of compassion for the broken, and will at times, witness the supernatural provision and protection of the Lord.
They will differ in assignments, size, and location. Some will be located in rural areas with large tracts of land, others in a suburban setting, and some in the very heart of a city. The common bond these Refuge Places share, however, is caring for precious people in the hour of crisis, especially the least and the last.
While we recognize that this is an idea that the Holy Spirit is emphasizing across the body of Christ, we understand that, just like Joseph built Goshen in preparation of housing the Israelites, so we too must use practical wisdom and the skill sets God provides to build these Refuge Places today. We are utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit for guidance, creativity, strategy and the grace to move forward.
Cities of Refuge - Lining It Up With God’s Word
I am one who likes to line up every teaching with the Word of God. To accurately interpret biblical texts we must understand them in their context. That means understanding the historical background, the type of literature we are reading (history, narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophetic), and how it fits into the whole counsel of God revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
This article is a brief outline of my findings from the Bible on the topic of Cities of Refuge. There are a number of Christian leaders today, myself included, that believe that God is once again calling His people to establish cities of refuge.
If so, it raises lots of questions: What does that mean for today? What is their purpose? Where are they located? Will they be like the cities of refuge in the Old Testament? What does the New Testament have to say about cities of refuge?
A number of the teachings I’ve heard on this subject have taken this topic beyond its Scriptural boundaries and have not applied sound biblical exegesis. My concern is that we present a biblically accurate interpretation and application of cities of refuge so the builders of today can build on a solid foundation of truth.
Let me state my conclusion right here at the beginning and then I’ll lay out the evidence of how I came to this conclusion:
The city of refuge is a biblical symbol and a type of the Lord Jesus who is our Refuge and Mediator. I believe the city of refuge teaching is a prophetic concept for us today, but it is neither a model nor a blueprint for us to follow in building places of refuge.
The Old Testament Reference to the Cities of Refuge
We do have numerous examples where God used people to provide a safe refuge for others in times of crisis.
Note: I can find no account in the Old Testament where the Israelites fled to the designated “cities of refuge” during a crisis or a military invasion. Villagers many times would flee to the nearby walled cities during a military invasion, for protection and provision. However, when the enemy surrounded the city and put it under siege, the walled city became a very difficult and dangerous place to reside. For example:
New Testament Examples of Places of Refuge
Still, many opened their homes to these persecuted brothers as the Lord opened their hearts to the gospel. In the epistles we read the admonitions of the apostles to practice hospitality to strangers and especially to believers. God calls His people to the compassionate care of others. (Acts 16:15; 32-34,40; 1 Cor 16:15-18)
Concluding Thoughts
From these accounts, both Old and New Testaments, I conclude that the “cities of refuge” teaching does not give us a biblical pattern to follow in building refuge places today. Nor do I see them as an Old Testament type or shadow to be fulfilled in the New Testament. I do believe the term is being used prophetically to describe a concept that is illustrated in many of the Bible passages above.
If, however, we want to establish a biblical foundation for this concept, I believe we will find our most solid ground in the biblical practice of hospitality. Our homes, and sometimes our local churches, become little Goshen’s, or as Mike Bickle calls them, pockets of mercy in times of crisis.
The Grace of Hospitality
To open one’s home to fellow believers or to strangers, is to open one’s life to them. It involves denying self, the sacrifice of one’s time, patience, kindness and great generosity. Bottom line, it’s the second commandment, the royal law, as James called it, being fleshed out.
Not only that, but by keeping the focus on our homes it becomes more than a “ministry vision” with a catchy mission statement. It’s not something I do, or go to like a job. It is the sharing of life, the “breaking of bread and the sharing of wine” at my table.
Hospitality is personal and real. It’s the look-them-in-the-eyes-and-listen-to-their-hearts kind of stuff. It’s not the kind of faith that says, “go in peace, be warmed and fed” (James 2:15), but the kind of faith that works through love, by sharing our goods in our homes with those in crisis.
In this hour of history, as God shakes everything that can be shaken, He is once again calling believers across the nations to prepare places of refuge to provide compassionate care for people in crisis. What can we do to prepare a place of refuge?
Learn the biblical truths of hospitality and practice them regularly. Open your home and invite others over to break bread around your table. Invite the Lord into the conversation. Open your home and open your heart to others and you’ll be building the foundation for being a place of refuge.
© Preparethewaytoday.com
I am one who likes to line up every teaching with the Word of God. To accurately interpret biblical texts we must understand them in their context. That means understanding the historical background, the type of literature we are reading (history, narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophetic), and how it fits into the whole counsel of God revealed in both the Old and New Testaments.
This article is a brief outline of my findings from the Bible on the topic of Cities of Refuge. There are a number of Christian leaders today, myself included, that believe that God is once again calling His people to establish cities of refuge.
If so, it raises lots of questions: What does that mean for today? What is their purpose? Where are they located? Will they be like the cities of refuge in the Old Testament? What does the New Testament have to say about cities of refuge?
A number of the teachings I’ve heard on this subject have taken this topic beyond its Scriptural boundaries and have not applied sound biblical exegesis. My concern is that we present a biblically accurate interpretation and application of cities of refuge so the builders of today can build on a solid foundation of truth.
Let me state my conclusion right here at the beginning and then I’ll lay out the evidence of how I came to this conclusion:
The city of refuge is a biblical symbol and a type of the Lord Jesus who is our Refuge and Mediator. I believe the city of refuge teaching is a prophetic concept for us today, but it is neither a model nor a blueprint for us to follow in building places of refuge.
The Old Testament Reference to the Cities of Refuge
- Cities of Refuge: Six Levitical cities were designed [by the Lord] to shelter the person
who had accidentally committed manslaughter, from the pursuit of the avenger of blood
(Num 35:9-14; Ex 21:12-13). [Davis Dictionary of the Bible, p.148] - The names of the cities and their ancient tribal locations (Joshua 20) -
• On the west of Jordan were: 1) Kedish in Naphtali; 2) Shechem in Ephraim; 3) Hebron in Judah;
• On the east of Jordan were: 4) Bezer for Reuben; 5) Ramoth in Gilead for Gad; 6) Golan in Bashan for Manasseh. - The City of Refuge provided a safe harbor for an individual in legal trouble (for a capital offense). It was a place where the accused could get a fair trail before the high priest. It was not, however, designed to be a place of refuge for people in crisis.
We do have numerous examples where God used people to provide a safe refuge for others in times of crisis.
- Joseph’s wisdom and strategy in handling Pharaoh’s prophetic dreams (one warning of a time of abundance and one warning of a time of famine) provides us with several truths that relate to both prophecy and practical preparations in coming crisis.
- Likewise, Goshen, built by Joseph for the Israelites prior to the Exodus, is a model of a community that received divine protection during the judgments of the Lord on Egypt. In Goshen, God distinguished between His people and the Egyptians. Though we learn several principles related to refuge places, it is not a blueprint to follow in building a place of refuge.
- Rahab hid the two Israelite spies in her home on the walls of Jericho. Her home was spared in God’s judgment on the city and preserved when the walls fell down.
- David’s cave of Adullam was a refuge place for the “distressed…indebted…and discontented” during the reign of Saul (1 Sam 22:1-2). Eventually David’s family and 400 men gathered there with him. It became a small refuge community in the Judean wilderness.
- Elijah’s flight from Ahab and Jezebel after prophesying a drought (1Kings 17) reveals God’s sovereignty and providential watch care over His servant.
•God supernaturally provides for Elijah at the brook Cherith, a God-appointed place of refuge. God commands the ravens to feed Elijah.
• God supernaturally provides for Elijah through a widow in Zarephath, another God-appointed place of refuge. As the widow opens her home to Elijah, she experiences God’s mercy towards herself and her son. Even in her reluctant obedience in sharing her food with Elijah, the Lord mercifully comes through with a miraculous multiplication of food. - Obadiah hid 100 prophets, by 50’s in two caves, and cared for them with bread and water during the drought (1 Kings 18). He provided a place of refuge for Yahweh’s prophets in a time of national judgment and religious persecution.
Note: I can find no account in the Old Testament where the Israelites fled to the designated “cities of refuge” during a crisis or a military invasion. Villagers many times would flee to the nearby walled cities during a military invasion, for protection and provision. However, when the enemy surrounded the city and put it under siege, the walled city became a very difficult and dangerous place to reside. For example:
- Elisha was trapped inside Samaria during an extended military siege that caused a horrendous famine in the city. Women began to eat their own children due to the severity of the famine brought on by the siege. Elisha prophesied that the famine would come to an abrupt end “tomorrow” (2 Kings 6:20 – 7:1,2,16-17). It did, according to the Word of the Lord.
- It must be noted that Elisha never encouraged the people of Samaria to flee to one of the six designated cities of refuge when the Syrians besieged the city.
New Testament Examples of Places of Refuge
- The believers living in Jerusalem during the Roman siege in 70 A.D. fled the city when they saw the city surrounded by armies, just as Jesus had warned them to do (Luke 21:20-24). Historians record that they fled to Pella; a city located north and east of Jerusalem and were integrated into that community.
- The church in Antioch recognized a prophecy given through the prophet Agabus as being given by the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:27-30). They received the prophetic word and crafted a response that invited the whole church to participate through proportional giving. Their plan involved supporting a group of “the brethren” in Jerusalem. However, they didn’t lead a disaster relief outreach to Jerusalem when the famine struck. Instead, they sent an offering to the church in Jerusalem ahead of the famine, enabling the Jerusalem church to purchase resources and prepare the infrastructure to care for one another.
- Throughout the book of Acts we see the believers practicing hospitality as part of their Christian walk. By offering refuge to Paul and his apostolic team meant that believers would risk persecution by being identified with Paul and the gospel.
Still, many opened their homes to these persecuted brothers as the Lord opened their hearts to the gospel. In the epistles we read the admonitions of the apostles to practice hospitality to strangers and especially to believers. God calls His people to the compassionate care of others. (Acts 16:15; 32-34,40; 1 Cor 16:15-18)
Concluding Thoughts
From these accounts, both Old and New Testaments, I conclude that the “cities of refuge” teaching does not give us a biblical pattern to follow in building refuge places today. Nor do I see them as an Old Testament type or shadow to be fulfilled in the New Testament. I do believe the term is being used prophetically to describe a concept that is illustrated in many of the Bible passages above.
If, however, we want to establish a biblical foundation for this concept, I believe we will find our most solid ground in the biblical practice of hospitality. Our homes, and sometimes our local churches, become little Goshen’s, or as Mike Bickle calls them, pockets of mercy in times of crisis.
The Grace of Hospitality
To open one’s home to fellow believers or to strangers, is to open one’s life to them. It involves denying self, the sacrifice of one’s time, patience, kindness and great generosity. Bottom line, it’s the second commandment, the royal law, as James called it, being fleshed out.
Not only that, but by keeping the focus on our homes it becomes more than a “ministry vision” with a catchy mission statement. It’s not something I do, or go to like a job. It is the sharing of life, the “breaking of bread and the sharing of wine” at my table.
Hospitality is personal and real. It’s the look-them-in-the-eyes-and-listen-to-their-hearts kind of stuff. It’s not the kind of faith that says, “go in peace, be warmed and fed” (James 2:15), but the kind of faith that works through love, by sharing our goods in our homes with those in crisis.
In this hour of history, as God shakes everything that can be shaken, He is once again calling believers across the nations to prepare places of refuge to provide compassionate care for people in crisis. What can we do to prepare a place of refuge?
Learn the biblical truths of hospitality and practice them regularly. Open your home and invite others over to break bread around your table. Invite the Lord into the conversation. Open your home and open your heart to others and you’ll be building the foundation for being a place of refuge.
© Preparethewaytoday.com
Essential Questions for Evaluating Your Refuge Place
If you are just beginning your journey into developing a place of refuge or if you are already well underway, it is essential to regularly evaluate your values, visions, goals and plans and make the necessary adjustments. Here is an evaluation sheet with a list of topics and questions that I compiled to help me think through all the various components involved in developing a place of refuge. Use it as a starting point for evaluating your plans. You may think of other areas that I have not covered. If so, modify it to meet your needs.
Establishing a Place of Refuge - Part 1
In this series of postings, I am providing you with an outline of what I call the "building blocks" for establishing a place of refuge. I will present the information in outline form, primarily to keep the information succinct and provide you with items for your consideration as you build your place of refuge.
These building blocks emerged from my research into the biblical and historical accounts of refuge places, I also give consideration to the prophetic perspective. This perspective is base on numerous warnings from credible Christian leaders whom the Lord has shown various aspects of the coming crisis. My final source comes from dozens of individuals, families and groups of committed people who are actively building their own expression of a place of refuge.
I. Clarifying the Call to Establish Places of Refuge
A. Biblical/Theological Foundation – Lining it up with the Word
- First, we must build on the nature of God who is, the God of Refuge. What are the implications of God being a Refuge for his people? (See handout of Bible verses on Refuge)
- Next, we consider the theological implications in both OT and NT. Can you site some biblical examples of refuge places?
- (See above: Cities of Refuge - Lining It Up With the Word)
- History shows us that we are part of a long line of refuge place heroes.
- We can learn much wisdom from their successes and their failures to help us in our time.
- Historical accounts reveal that refuges places are always connected to times of suffering and persecution. Most expressions of refuge places involved caring for Christians and Jews. If God is calling people to raise-up places of refuge in this hour of history, does that mean that suffering and persecution are on the horizon?
- Do your own historical research and look for lessons to learn from the accounts. Resource List
- This enables us to discern the hour in which we live. Through these prophetic words and warnings we are given glimpses into the future state of our times. Consider what is written about the "Sons of Issachar" (1 Chronicles 12:32) and what that would mean for today.
- We compare these words with contemporary trends and current events to give us a more focused picture of what we may be facing in the future.
- Using the above three points we project real-life scenarios and strategies.
- See Headlines From the Lord on Prophetic Perspectives page.
STRATEGY STIMULATOR #1
How do you envision the future unfolding?
- Consider the political / legislative, financial, social, and technological issues in your analysis:
- What do you see as the Positive trends?
- What do you see as the Negative trends?
- What are the implications for where you are building your refuge place?
Establishing a Place of Refuge - Part 2
II. Understanding the Times In Which We Live
A. Each crisis will differ in geographical impact, severity, and duration.
1. For the first time in history the majority of the population of the world live in cities. These cities are highly dependent upon an interdependent
network of infrastructure to provide services necessary for sustaining the lives of the population they serve. These structures are fragile,
interdependent, and critical for life and commerce.
3. The Five Stages of Societal Breakdown & Resilience (Kevin Reeve, onPoint Tactical, 2016)
a) Cooperative/Mutual Assistance Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: 24-48 hours after event
• Threat of Violence: Low
b) Self-Preservation/Suspicion Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: 48-72 hours
• Threat of Violence: Low
c) Anarchy Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: 72 hours to two weeks
• Threat of Violence: Increasing to high
d) Tribal Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: Tribalism will develop and continue polarize people until rule of law is reintroduced by force.
• Threat level: High
e) Warlord Phase or Return to Order Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: Unknown
C. Putting a face on the refugee crisis – What do your projections of the future look like when played out in real-time on our streets and communities?
1. Refugees will differ in culture from region to region and whether from city, suburb or rural areas.
• We may see a mixture of social classes in the groups all seeking help. This offers potential for interpersonal conflict and clashes.
• Expect a significant number to be addicted to drugs (prescription & illegal).
• Many children and teens will be separated from parents, orphaned, with some being temporarily cared for by others.
• Expect there to be registered sex offenders and sexual predators among refugees.
• Expect many to be armed with weapons (most will not be trained for safe handling).
• Expect most to be physically weak, sick, dehydrated, hungry, and desperate. Many will have emotional trauma, injuries, and little to no personal
items with them.
• The spread of disease and sickness will be a continual risk the longer the crisis continues.
2. A short list of people we may be providing a temporary refuge place for:
✓ Individuals and families living near a disaster zone
✓ Children and teens that are displaced or orphaned due to a crisis
✓ Pastors or ministry leaders and their families that need a safe “fall back zone” from the crisis occurring in the city where they minister.
✓ Missionaries who are not able to return to their mission assignment due to adverse situations in that nation.
✓ A safe haven for Christians or Jews fleeing religious/political persecution
3. Reactions to Long-Term Crisis. The longer the crisis lasts, the less help will be available. After a several months, when people realize no help is on the
way, I anticipate three basic reactions:
• Become Victims: Checkout on life. These individuals, refusing to deal with the reality of the crisis, will give up hope, becoming listless and non
functional. They will become liability for others to care for. Suicides may increase as a result.
• Become Survivors: They will make the best of the situation. They will rally skills and resources and try to make the best of a very difficult situation and
care for their family. Neighbors join together for the common good and for safety and security.
• Become Predators: They will take the best of the situation. They will form gangs or raiding parties and steal from those who are defenseless first. If
WROL (Without Rule of Law) continues they may become a law unto themselves and extort those who will comply with their demands. Gangs will take
this role in large cities.
D. How can you prepare for the impact will these coming crisis have on your local area?
1. Know what you are preparing for! You can’t prepare for everything. Thoroughly research the most likely crisis that will affect the families in your
church/ministry.
2. What is the greatest threat to the families in your care? Narrow the focus down to the two or three threats.
3. Know your capabilities and your limitations. Take time to assess both the resources available to you and the liabilities working against you (personally
and locally). Spell these out clearly. They will factor into your preparedness plan.
4. Focus on meeting the needs of your group
A. Each crisis will differ in geographical impact, severity, and duration.
- Some crisis will have a small footprint, primarily affecting things locally or regionally. (A disaster like a tornado, flood, hurricane, or tsunami)
- Some will have national implications – they will be severe in nature, and/or lingering in their duration. (Pandemic illness, terrorist attack)
- Some will be “Game Changers.” They will affect nearly every aspect of daily life and will change the way we live for years. (Electrical grid-down event, EMP, financial collapse)
- In any of the above scenarios we be facing the potentiality of people being displaced from their homes, some for a short period of time, and others permanently.
- We are talking about Refuge Places because, due to the aforementioned events, people have become refugees.
1. For the first time in history the majority of the population of the world live in cities. These cities are highly dependent upon an interdependent
network of infrastructure to provide services necessary for sustaining the lives of the population they serve. These structures are fragile,
interdependent, and critical for life and commerce.
- During the Great Depression in the 1930’s, 80% of the population lived in rural areas and 20% lived in the cities. Today, those numbers are reversed.
- Natural and man-made disasters bring disruption to these critical infrastructures shutting them down temporarily. We have limited provisions and unlimited demand for those provisions.
3. The Five Stages of Societal Breakdown & Resilience (Kevin Reeve, onPoint Tactical, 2016)
a) Cooperative/Mutual Assistance Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: 24-48 hours after event
• Threat of Violence: Low
b) Self-Preservation/Suspicion Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: 48-72 hours
• Threat of Violence: Low
c) Anarchy Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: 72 hours to two weeks
• Threat of Violence: Increasing to high
d) Tribal Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: Tribalism will develop and continue polarize people until rule of law is reintroduced by force.
• Threat level: High
e) Warlord Phase or Return to Order Phase
• Time Frame/Duration: Unknown
C. Putting a face on the refugee crisis – What do your projections of the future look like when played out in real-time on our streets and communities?
1. Refugees will differ in culture from region to region and whether from city, suburb or rural areas.
• We may see a mixture of social classes in the groups all seeking help. This offers potential for interpersonal conflict and clashes.
• Expect a significant number to be addicted to drugs (prescription & illegal).
• Many children and teens will be separated from parents, orphaned, with some being temporarily cared for by others.
• Expect there to be registered sex offenders and sexual predators among refugees.
• Expect many to be armed with weapons (most will not be trained for safe handling).
• Expect most to be physically weak, sick, dehydrated, hungry, and desperate. Many will have emotional trauma, injuries, and little to no personal
items with them.
• The spread of disease and sickness will be a continual risk the longer the crisis continues.
2. A short list of people we may be providing a temporary refuge place for:
✓ Individuals and families living near a disaster zone
✓ Children and teens that are displaced or orphaned due to a crisis
✓ Pastors or ministry leaders and their families that need a safe “fall back zone” from the crisis occurring in the city where they minister.
✓ Missionaries who are not able to return to their mission assignment due to adverse situations in that nation.
✓ A safe haven for Christians or Jews fleeing religious/political persecution
3. Reactions to Long-Term Crisis. The longer the crisis lasts, the less help will be available. After a several months, when people realize no help is on the
way, I anticipate three basic reactions:
• Become Victims: Checkout on life. These individuals, refusing to deal with the reality of the crisis, will give up hope, becoming listless and non
functional. They will become liability for others to care for. Suicides may increase as a result.
• Become Survivors: They will make the best of the situation. They will rally skills and resources and try to make the best of a very difficult situation and
care for their family. Neighbors join together for the common good and for safety and security.
• Become Predators: They will take the best of the situation. They will form gangs or raiding parties and steal from those who are defenseless first. If
WROL (Without Rule of Law) continues they may become a law unto themselves and extort those who will comply with their demands. Gangs will take
this role in large cities.
D. How can you prepare for the impact will these coming crisis have on your local area?
1. Know what you are preparing for! You can’t prepare for everything. Thoroughly research the most likely crisis that will affect the families in your
church/ministry.
2. What is the greatest threat to the families in your care? Narrow the focus down to the two or three threats.
3. Know your capabilities and your limitations. Take time to assess both the resources available to you and the liabilities working against you (personally
and locally). Spell these out clearly. They will factor into your preparedness plan.
4. Focus on meeting the needs of your group
List of Books and DVDs on Historical Accounts of Places of Refuge
rescue___refuge_books___dvds_latest.pdf | |
File Size: | 112 kb |
File Type: |