Corona Devo 313

I have always enjoyed words and their meanings. I am consistently surprised at how many words and terms originated in the Bible, have withstood the test of time, and are still being circulated in conversation, print, and our spiritual lives.

Today's vocabulary word is "scapegoat".

Merriam Webster defines a scapegoat as one that bears the blame for others.  The original scapegoats as defined by God and were used by early priests who would "transfer the people's sins" onto the goat, and then send the goat (and the people's sins) into the wilderness. It would happen like this:

“When Aaron has finished purifying the Most Holy Place and the Tabernacle and the altar, he must present the live goat. (21) He will lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel. In this way, he will transfer the people’s sins to the head of the goat. Then a man specially chosen for the task will drive the goat into the wilderness. (22) As the goat goes into the wilderness, it will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land.  ~Leviticus 16:20-22

Some days, sometimes, and in some situations, I'd like a scapegoat. I'd like to confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins that I feel and commit.

These words sound strong, but when we do or say something to purposely benefit ourselves at the cost of someone/something else--that is wicked. It certainly is not godly behavior. Yes, I'd like a scapegoat to confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of me.

When my kids talk back to me under their breath, that is rebellion. When I used to do the same to my parents--that was also rebellion. Sometimes I still talk back to my Heavenly Father when I am upset about the way life is going. This is still rebellion. Yes, I'd like a scapegoat to confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of me.

When we know what God wants us to do, and we willingly choose to do otherwise, this is sin. When our emotions or pride get the best of us and we lash out verbally, emotionally or physically--this is sin. When we do anything that is dishonoring to God, this is sin. Yes, I'd like a scapegoat to confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of me.

The amazing, unbelievable, seemingly-impossible truth is that we have a scapegoat. God has always extended an option for His love and forgiveness to us. In early Biblical times people had the option of providing sacrifices as their atonement for sin, including placing their wickedness, rebellion, and sins on a scapegoat and driving the goat into the wilderness.

But eventually and in perpetuity, God provided His Son at the cross as the ultimate scapegoat for us.

As Jesus endured the tortures before the crucifiction and then as He hung on the cross, Jesus took upon Himself the weight and "confessions" of our wickedness, rebellion, and sins.

In this way, he will transfer the people’s sins to (Jesus). ~Leviticus 16:21

There was no more goat. Jesus became our scapegoat. With His death and ownership of our sin, He had to be separated from His Father for a time (before the resurrection), as our sins were driven into the wilderness. ~Leviticus 16:22

Jesus fulfills Webster's "scapegoat" definition of one that bears the blame for others.  He bore the blame for us.  He bore the shame for us.  He bore the pain for us.  He bore the death for us. 

As the goat goes into the wilderness, it will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land.  ~Leviticus 16:22

Jesus entered that desolate land and returned. He carried the weight and death of our sin away, and His resurrection brought our resurrection from the weight and death that sin held over us. We can live both now and in Heaven because Jesus, our scapegoat carried all the people’s sins upon Himself.

Yes! We have a scapegoat to whom my wickedness, rebellion, and sins have already been confessed. And He loves us still.

When God revealed Himself (His presence) to Moses, He also declared what He is like to Moses. These are the qualities that God used to describe Himself:

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, (7) maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.  ~Exodus 34:6-7

There is so much depth in how God describes Himself in these verses, but remember what the "scapegoat" in Leviticus was carrying away into the wilderness? (He will lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel. ~Leviticus 16:21).

In "getting right" with Jesus, and having that trickle down into the people and relationships of our life, we must confess our wickedness, rebellion, and sins.

But God is good to us. He gave His Son as our scapegoat, and built into His character is maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.  ~Exodus 34:7

Today, remember that we are one of the thousands that God maintains love to and He has forgiven wickedness, rebellion and sin.

Because we have Jesus as our ultimate scapegoat, we can define our lives by some new vocabulary words: forgiveness, redemption, and freedom. Let's live like it today!

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/