Lesson 159: THE SCAPE GOAT

The Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English defines the
word “SCAPE GOAT” as “PERSON BLAMED OR PUNISHED FOR THE MISTAKES OR WRONGDOING OF ANOTHER OR OTHERS.”
However, in this study we want to examine what led to the issue of scapegoat, its spiritual implication and what should be our attitude towards it today. May the Lord Almighty give us a deep understanding of His word as we go on, Amen.

1. SIGNIFICANCE OF OFFERING IN ISRAEL
Making offering or sacrifice to God was a very ancient practice
Gen. 4:3,8:20; Ex. 10:25, and was known in Egypt and Babylonia
long before the patriarchal times. Gen. 3:21; Gen. 4:3: Ex. 12:1
3; Lev. 1:7 Lev. 4:3-5,13-15, 22-23,27-29, Heb. 6:1-6.

2. THE SCAPEGOAT TODAY
The High Priest has a responsibility of performing a solemn and
general act of worship to all Israelites once a year i.e. 10th of the 7th month in order to reconcile the nation to Jehovah God. There
he sacrificed a bullock for his own sin and two goats, on which
lots w ill be cast. kill one and let the other go alive into the
wilderness. This was for the sin of the whole nation of Israel. Tills
is know n as the scapegoat or the escape goat.

Lev. 16:1-10; Is. 53:4-6; Heb. 9:13-15; Heb. ] 0:8-10; Mal. 2:13; Gal. 4:9; I Pet. 3:18; II Cor. 5:77-20; I Pet. 2:24.