Some of the towns of Israel were to be set apart as places where those accused of manslaughter could find refuge from vengeful pursuers until they received a fair trial. It is a remarkable provision and demonstrates how important justice is to God. In the context of all the bloodshed of the book of Joshua it is good to be reminded that God’s ultimate desire is for justice and the upholding of the sanctity of human life. While, for the reasons I have discussed, it was necessary for God to bring his judgement upon the land, this was only a means to an end. The means is not the ultimate expression of God’s character because a terrible situation often requires terrible measures. The society that God wanted to establish in the land was to be an example of justice in action and, in this, an expression of his love and concern for all people. As well as provisions for fair trials there were many provisions for the poor as well as those who immigrated into the country from afar. Oppression could not exist if the law of God was observed. There could be no instance of a few rich people owning most of the country’s resources (as all land was returned to its traditional owners on the year of Jubilee) and no one would live under oppressive debt (as debts were cancelled every seven years). God loves justice and he wants us not only to uphold justice for all people but to contend for it whenever we can.
Think about how you can get involved with a cause for justice.
Read Joshua 20
