What does Leviticus 16:22 teach about God's provision for dealing with sin? Context: The Day of Atonement - Once a year the high priest entered the Holy of Holies with sacrificial blood, but two goats were required (Leviticus 16:7-10). - One was slain; the other, the “scapegoat,” was kept alive to illustrate a different aspect of atonement. - The ritual was instituted by God, not man, underscoring that only the Lord defines how sin is dealt with (Leviticus 16:34). Key Observations from Leviticus 16:22 “ ‘The goat will carry on itself all their iniquities into a solitary place, and the man will release it into the wilderness.’ ” - Complete transfer: “all their iniquities.” Nothing is overlooked. - Substitution: the goat “will carry” what the people deserved to bear. - Separation: released “into a solitary place,” far from the camp. - Irreversibility: once the goat is gone, the sins do not return. - Divine direction: every step is commanded by God, showing His sovereign initiative. What This Reveals About God’s Provision for Sin • God provides a substitute so His people do not suffer the penalty themselves (cf. Genesis 22:13). • He removes sin entirely, not partially—“as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). • The process happens outside human merit; the people simply watch their sins carried away. • Atonement is both judicial (guilt paid by the slain goat) and relational (guilt removed by the living goat). • The wilderness picture assures hearts that forgiven sin is out of sight and out of reach. Christ: The Greater Fulfillment - Isaiah 53:6: “the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.” - John 1:29: “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” - 2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf.” - Hebrews 9:12: Christ entered the heavenly Most Holy Place “once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Jesus is both sacrificial victim and sin-bearer. The cross satisfies justice (like the slain goat) and removes our guilt forever (like the scapegoat). Living in the Freedom God Provides - Assurance: If God has carried away every sin, no accusation can stand (Romans 8:33-34). - Gratitude: A forgiven people become a worshiping people (Hebrews 13:15). - Holiness: Freed from bondage, we pursue the purity that reflects our standing (1 Peter 1:15-16). - Hope: The Day of Atonement foreshadows the final day when Christ appears “a second time, apart from sin, to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him” (Hebrews 9:28). God’s provision, first pictured in the wilderness goat, finds its full, eternal reality in Jesus—our sin removed, our conscience cleansed, our relationship with Him restored. |
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