“The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him” (Numbers 35:21 ESV).
Moses instructed the people of Israel in the wilderness regarding God’s laws for justice, particularly in cases of murder and manslaughter. He commanded that the “avenger of blood” was authorized to carry out justice on behalf of the victim by putting the “murderer to death.” This avenger of blood was not a random vigilante but a “kinsman-redeemer” (Hebrew: “go’el“) responsible for upholding justice within the family. In this context, the “avenger of blood” (“go’el ha-dam“) carried out righteous judgment against intentional murder. Yet this same role extended beyond vengeance. In other passages, the go’el restored what was lost by redeeming land, freeing relatives from slavery, and as seen in the Book of Ruth, preserving a family line. Whether restoring or avenging, the go’el acted out of covenant loyalty to set things right. This reveals a deeper truth about God Himself, who later identified Himself as Israel’s Go’el in Isaiah (Isa. 49:26, 54:5) showing that He both saves and vindicates.
We often prefer a God who redeems but feel uncomfortable with a God who judges. Yet this passage reminds us that true covenant love requires both. Justice is not opposed to redemption. It is part of it. When wrong is left unaddressed, restoration is incomplete. As we reflect on this, we are challenged to trust God’s character more fully. He is not divided. He is perfectly righteous in both His mercy and His justice. In Christ, we see this tension resolved. Jesus is our Redeemer who saves us, yet He also bore the judgment we deserved. This calls us to live with both gratitude and reverence. We are invited to rest in His mercy while respecting His holiness. We are also called to reflect His heart by pursuing what is right and restoring what is broken.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You that You are both just and merciful. You do not ignore sin, yet You have made a way to redeem us through Your Son. Help us to trust Your character fully, even when we struggle to understand Your ways. Teach us to value both justice and restoration in our own lives. Shape our hearts to reflect Your covenant love in how we treat others. In Jesus’ name, amen.