Scapegoat
Leviticus 16:1-10
The Day of Atonement
16 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the Lord. 2 The Lord said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.3 “This is how Aaron is to enter the Most Holy Place: He must first bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban. These are sacred garments; so he must bathe himself with water before he puts them on. 5 From the Israelite community he is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.6 “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. 7 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. 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 wilderness as a scapegoat.
The interesting word, scapegoat comes at first in this chapter of the bible, and originally, the word, 아자젤(עֲזָאזֵל) is ‘염소’(עֵז) and ‘도망’(אוזל)'s compound word. We use this word in case someone who is to be blamed for something bad they didn't do instead of others. He or she became a scapegoat of something or someone. However, the meaning of the word, scapegoat is totally different from what we are using it nowadays as they are the ones who have been escaped from death. Like the tradition of escaping a turkey from death on Thanksgiving Day, they are the ones who have been escaped from death because of sins.
In this way, I could tell me a scapegoat itself. I was destined to die, but I could be forgiven and saved from death, I mean, the spiritual death between God and me. It was because of the other one whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrificed as a sin offering for me, which mean there is one who died instead of me. It symbolizes Jesus, who died as a redeemer and a Savior of mine. He was a good shepherd who died for His own sheep and goats, until his clothes were looted by men who threw lots for it.
One more interesting is that the goat alive is sent to the wilderness, after having been used for atonement. I couldn't understand this sentence 100%, but I guess that they are free from death and ran for their lives as quickly as possible. In the bible, death and sacrifices are necessary to redeem us from our sins, but this case is very special. It makes me confused a lot about this situation, as there is no other reason for that. But one thing is for sure that I am one of the scapegoats in there.
The life in the wilderness would not too easy for it as there is no much grass and there could be wild beasts and so on, but it should live its lives as a scapegoat, giving thanks to the Lord who saved its life. Likewise, my life has been tough and there were many difficulties in life, but I have endured and gave thanks to Him, the Savior, and I will do it until I stand before Him. I will keep it in mind that I am the scapegoat in the wilderness for today.
