Avenger of Blood
Avenger of Blood “So that anyone who kills a person accidentally—that is, unintentionally—may flee there and find protection from the avenger of blood.” ( Joshua 20:3 ) God is a God of justice as much as He is a God of mercy. Even in moments marked by tragedy and loss, His grace shines through. He is always mindful of human frailty and continually works to protect life and restore order. In our text, we are introduced to the concept of the avenger of blood —a relative who felt justified to take another life in retaliation for the death of a loved one. While such emotions are understandable, God, in His wisdom, made provision to prevent injustice and the escalation of violence. For anyone who killed another person unintentionally—what we would today call manslaughter—God instructed Israel to establish cities of refuge. These cities provided safety, preventing the avenger of blood from taking a life that God had not judged guilty of murder. Justice was preserved, but mercy was also ...