Flee To The Refuge
Hebrews 6:13-18

INTRO: “refuge” (katafugonteV) is used 1X in the New Testament, meaning to flee as a fugitive would flee the law (intensive usage), and 45X in the Old Testament. The term refuge embodies many ideas: shelter, safety, protection, security, preservation, help, defense, fortress, tower, rock.

Psalm 59:16 “But I will sing of they power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of trouble.”

Psalm 62:7 “In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.”

Prov. 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.”

*The KEY words to understanding “refuge” are hope and confidence. This hope is based on the true character of God (immutable) and the work of Christ (the Forerunner who entered the veil). Without the unchangeable character of God and the perfect work of Christ, there would be no hope or confidence.

Hebrews 6:13-20 teaches principles regarding this present refuge in Christ.

OUR REFUGE: BASED UPON GOD’S ETERNAL PROMISES: 6:13-14 / God called Abraham unto Himself, and multiplied his seed. God said, “I will...I will.” Abraham was the supreme example of a man who received promises from God and lived in the good of those promises, persevering to the end by faith.

To Abraham was the fundamental and comprehensive promise given: that the Lord would bestow upon Israel and the whole world His blessing. Seven fold promise of Gen. 12:1-3

For when God made promise to Abraham, - Aor Mid Ptc - epaggeilamenoV - The Lord in time past had continued to maintain His promise to Abraham, and Abraham knew it.

because he could swear by no greater, - omosai - Aor Act Inf -

he sware by himself, - wmosen - Aor Act Ind - He personally took charge of the all necessities to fulfill the promises made to Abraham.

Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, - eulogwn (Pres Act Ptc) and euloghsw (Fut Act Ind).

and multiplying (plhqunwn - Pres Act Ptc) I will multiply thee (plhqunw - Fut Act Ind)

PATIENT ENDURANCE IS REQUIRED TO INHERIT THE PROMISE OF GOD: 6:15 - Patient endurance is necessitated on our part, as it was on the part of Abraham. Abraham was 75 when he left Haran, described in Gen. 12 and it was not until he was 100 (25 years of endurance and waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise). He was not perfect, but he persisted in faith. The promise to Abraham, and the promise to His people is bound up in the character of God.

No mere man could have promised with certainty and assurance. The promise was secure because God pledged Himself to perform it. God confirmed an oath based upon His character, which is unchangeable. It is our hope and confidence because it is His guarantee.

And so, after he had patiently endured, - makroqumhsaV - Aor Act Ptc - have long patience, suffer long, patiently endure, to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart, to persevere patiently and bravely in enduring misfortunes and troubles.

he obtained the promise. - epetucen - Aor Act Ind - He received the “action” of God’s promise, after he had obeyed continuously, the promise itself.

GOD’S UNCHANGEABLE FAITHFULNESS AND RELIABILITY CONFIRM THE PROMISES: 6:16-17

Quote from Gen. 22:16-18 immediately following the account of Abraham and Issac on Moriah We don’t have to handle the outcome of God’s promises. It is God that is in control, and He will not break His oath.

For men verily swear by the greater: - if power is necessary to carry out the promise, men place their allegiance in the greatest power for fulfillment.

and an oath - a pledge to God

for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. - men put away all contradiction to any promise when the oath is made to God, or by God. There is no question that the oath or the promise will be fulfilled. We become settled in our mind as to the outcome of God’s promises.

6:17 God never changes. What God is the refuge, if it is not reliable (house built upon the sand, etc.). A promise or idea of an oath is that a higher authority is appealed too, one who has the truth and the power to enforce it. With the Lord, His Word is guarantee enough. By confirming it to Himself, it becomes double sure.

“Immutability” - ametaqaton - is a technical term used in connection with wills. You could not change the last testament of a person who documented his will. God documented His will by His Word and Christ died to make the will apply to those who would inherit the promises.

“Confirmed”/ used in the papyri in contractual agreements.
to act as a mediator between litigating parties, to pledge or act as a guarantee or surety of an oath or promise.

GOD’S DIVINE REPUTATION CONFIRMS THE PROMISES: 6:18

By immutable things (ametaqetwn): his oath and His promise

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, - adunaton - impotent, weak, not possible, without strength, powerless, weakly, disabled, unable to be done.

we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge Aor Act Ptc - katafugonteV -

to lay hold upon the hope set before us: - Aor Act inf - krathsai - hold fast, to get possession of, seize, get into your personal power.

God has staked His Divine reputation upon this truth. In His promise we look at the very words of God, and in His oath we examine His character.

Logical Argument:
God’s character is unchangeable: 6:18; 13:8
God can be trusted as a refuge: 6:18; I Cor. 15:16-19
This refuge gives us hope: 6:19-20

God is our eternal refuge
He through all earth’s cares and strife
Will protect us when the tumult
Rages in the storms of life.

We are anchored in His harbor,
Safely from the storms that harm;
And beneath our place of refuge,
Are His everlasting arms.

In the place of blest assurance,
Where no fears possess the soul;
We are safely now abiding
God eternal is our goal.
Ethel Miller

God confirmed His Word by an oath that you might have a strong consolation - He cannot lie Notice that we have a strong consolation IF we have fled to the refuge. **You can run from God or flee to Him for salvation, grace, and help.

In the Scripture men are described as fleeing from God and His wrath, to hide in caves and under rocks, and in the dust. We don’t have to, if we flee to the refuge.

Lay hold upon the hope (horns of the altar).

1 Kings 1:50-51 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. And it was told Solomon, saying, Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon: for, lo, he hath caught hold on the horns of the altar, saying, Let king Solomon swear unto me to day that he will not slay his servant with the sword.

1 Kings 2:28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

In Jewish history a man guilty of manslaughter was unconditionally set free upon the death of the priest, after having lived in a city of refuge. This is a great picture of the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus. The world put Christ to death, and He said, “Father forgive them.” The hope that is set before us like the city of refuge. Christ died and set us free. He now lives as our Priest, providing a surety of hope.

Amos 3:14 That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.