JOSHUA 20
So, the cities of refuge are finally established in Israel—you know, the places a person could flee if they had accidentally caused a person’s death and were on the run from the blood avenger. In the city of refuge, they would find a haven where they would be safe; there, they would be given the opportunity for a hearing on the incident in question.
As I read this again, it occurred to me that God was the first person to ever set forth the principle of a person being innocent until proven guilty. A person who fled to a city of refuge was not considered guilty. If they were not found guilty by trial, they were always considered innocent and would not be handed over to the blood avenger.
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To me, this is really in keeping with a God who places a high value on evidence. He doesn’t ask us to believe anything "just because" He said it. He takes the time, effort, sweat, blood, and tears to prove the truthfulness of His word. And He extends this way of doing things to our lives as well. He teaches us to place a high value on evidence—not to just believe something because it "sounds good," but to test it and see if it is worthy of merit.
Hopefully we will learn to value evidence as God does, and after examining that evidence thoroughly, may we be able to say, with Paul, "God, may you win your case when you go into court!" (Rom 3:4)
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