Numbers 35 is a curious chapter that deals with the rules around murder. There is a long litany of laws about what is considered murder punishable by death, and what is accidental. If you use an “iron object….rock…big enough to kill….or wooden club heavy enough to kill” it is instantly to be considered murder. Fits of anger are also murder. But accidental death would mean the person who committed the death could flee to one of six “asylum towns” where they could remain until the High Priest died at which time they would be free to return home. They were safe in these towns from retribution. Sounds like things back in Moses time were sort of like they are today – people do stupid things to each other and cause pain and death. And these were God’s people who are mistreating each other. Oh how human nature doesn’t seem to change.
It is interesting to me that God says “Anyone who kills another may be executed only on the testimony of eyewitnesses. But no one can be executed on the testimony of only one witness”. So we obviously have a little truth issue going on here as well. It is always good to verify what you hear from multiple sources. I have seen far too often where one account often misses some important details that can lead to the wrong results. It is important we make sure we get the whole truth before taking action and passing judgement. God has a high standard for truth. Almost all true doesn’t cut it. So it is critical to make sure we are painstakingly careful to have the whole truth, and nothing but the truth before we take action on things. God tells us the reality of how He expects us to live: “Don’t desecrate the land in which you live. I live here too–I, GOD, live in the same neighborhood with the People of Israel”. He lives with us today just like He did then. He has entrusted things to us to serve as His steward and take care of. We must not desecrate but protect and take good care of all that He has entrusted to us. God isn’t into close when it comes to truth and obedience. He requires 100% all the time. That is the bar He has set. Thankfully Jesus was sent to give us a way to deal with our shortcomings, but the bar never moves. So don’t go kill anyone, and be sure to walk faithfully and totally in His will!
