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PROVIDENCE AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY (3)
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1
Ruth 2:18-23

Deuteronomy 19:1-13

 

“…deliver him into the hand

of the avenger of blood…”

 

PROVIDENCE AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY (3)
 
God had set the year of Jubilee which came every fifty years, in which all persons sold into slavery were to be set free, and all lands that had been sold were to be released back to their original possessors. But before the year of Jubilee came, there was the possibility of accomplishing the same through the kinsman-redeemer. However, the duty of the kinsman extended beyond the freedom of enslaved relatives and their sold property. The kinsman-redeemer also had responsibility on issues regarding life.
 
3. When the lineage was in danger of being lost (Deut 25:5-6). If a man died without children to bear his name or inherit his property, then the duty of “raising up seed” was committed to a kinsman, specifically his brother in this case. The family was to be maintained, and if the man died having no child, the brother was to produce a seed for his deceased brother who would inherit his property and maintain the family name. In Genesis 38, we are given one example of this, where the man who was unwilling to fulfil his brother’s responsibility was punished by the LORD. This would also keep the land within the family and not let it go to “strangers,” as the widow would be married within the family and not outside of the family.
 
4. When there is shedding of blood and matters of vengeance (Num 35:19-21). The Ten Commandments clearly forbid the taking of life, and the provision for both the kinsman “avenger” and the cities of refuge were to prevent the shedding of innocent blood. Slaying a man was taking what belongs to God, and blood was to be given for blood and life for life. The cities of refuge were to give time for determining whether the killing was intentional or unintentional (Num 35:12). If it was determined that it was intentional, the murderer was to be handed over to be killed (Num 35:16-18). If the person left the city of refuge before the appointed time and was met by the avenger of blood, he could be slain by the avenger without him (the avenger) bearing any guilt (Num 35:26-28).
 
THOUGHT: (Read Job 19:25 and Hebrews 2:11, 16-18.)

PRAYER: (Use Hebrews 4:14-16.)

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