Scape Goat

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….. “….Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the people of Israel, and all their transgressions, all their sins. And he shall put them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness. The goat shall bear all their iniquities on itself to a remote area, and he shall let the goat go free in the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:21-22 ESV

When an innocent person takes the blame for someone else, they are referred to as a “scape goat.” Often this is not a role that is freely taken on, but one that happens by default or the cunning of the guilty to escape condemnation.

I’m not sure if people tie that term to its biblical roots. The Day of Atonement (now known as Yom Kippur) is the most holiest of days on the Jewish calendar. The ritual laid out in the Law of Moses was very specific and detailed. As High Priest, Aaron had to sacrifice for himself. He had to make sacrifices and follow rituals to cleanse the altar and the Tabernacle.

Two male goats were selected. One was sacrifice. The other Aaron laid both hands on its head and confessed over it the sins of the people. Then a man who was chosen for the task, lead the goat into the wilderness and let the animal go. The sacrifices and the ritual involved in this important “day” were extensive and critical. It was to be a reminder of the seriousness of sin and holiness of God. This was not a flippant activity. This was a matter of life and death. Forgiveness and judgment. Bondage and slavery.

This process involved two animals that show the full meaning of salvation. One animal is killed as the substitute for the people, so they are free to live. The other animal is released to the wilderness as a visual demonstration that the sins it carries are gone and out of sight.

I recall hearing that tradition tells us that when the man who released the goat, saw the animal disappear over the horizon that he would turn back toward the camp and declare, “It…is…finished!” What a power connection to the death of Christ on the cross who fulfilled both aspects of salvation. He not only was the sacrifice for our sin, but was the, “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”  We are also reminded that, “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12 NIV)

That is why we see Hebrews declare, “And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” (Hebrews 13:12 NIV)

When I consider all that Christ has done for us and of the treasure of the gospel found in scripture, I recall the penetrating question, “…how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?….” (Hebrews 2:3 NIV) All we have to do is accept what has been so freely provided for us in Christ Jesus.

Prayer for today…. Lord, thank You that our salvation and freedom the guilty and judgment of sin has been freely provided. The work is finished! All we have to do is reap the benefits of that which has been taken on by our eternal “scape goat.”