February 29, 2024
Read Leviticus 16, Psalm 60, Galatians 3
Have you ever heard of or used the term “scapegoat?” Today, a scapegoat is a person who is blamed for wrong doings, mistakes, or faults of others. Usually done in a quick manner. Maybe you were somebody else’s scapegoat or maybe you were the one blaming the other person. I’m sure this gets done quite often in a workplace, a school, and most of all between siblings. The term comes from Leviticus 16 from a practice that was done on the Day of Atonement. One time a year Aaron or the high priest would enter the Most Holy place and offer two sacrifices of a goat. “He is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering” v. 5. After using a bull to sacrifice for his own sin the Lord describes these most curious instructions for Aaron to follow. “Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.a 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat” vv. 7-10. Aaron or the high priest would lay hands on the “scapegoat” and send it away to run into the wilderness which would represent the sins of the people being carried away and removed from their camp. What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.
Posted by John Weldon 
DId God Really Say... 