First Read Leviticus 16:1-34
This is a shorter reading today as we are focusing just on verses 20-22 the goats that were brought before the LORD. One was to be offered, the other was sent off into the wilderness.
16:22-22 Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and sent it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat into the wilderness.
After the sacrifice was made of the live goat, now one was brought to which the sins of Israel were symbolically transferred to it and it was sent away. In doing so the transgressions and inquiries left Israel. Note what is said when the priest lays his hands on the goat, for often in Leviticus we have seen that a person was to lay their hands upon a sacrifice, but it is not told what they say or for what reason. This gives the insight implied that it was a transferring of sin onto the animal.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US:
- God made a way for us to live holy with Him. In Leviticus dealing with people’s transgressions and inquiries was dealt with 2 goats; killing one, and allowing the other to be a scapegoat; when Christ came, he accomplished it once and for all with His work on the cross.
eric whitman 