The whole “scapegoat” concept is amazing. This unique word is only used 4 times in all the Bible, all being in Leviticus chapter 16. All concerning the Day of Atonement! It is the noun “azazel” in Hebrew, meaning the “goat” (“ez” in Hebrew) that “goes away” (“azal” in Hebrew).
Here’s the Text, God speaking directly to Moses, indirectly to Aaron: “And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. (BLOODSHED) But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. (SIN CARRIED FAR, FAR AWAY)” Leviticus 16:7-10
The “scapegoat” became the bearer of Israel’s sins (the whole nation) … in God’s Eyes … “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat.” Leviticus 16:21, a symbolic/typical transferring of sins onto an innocent animal! That verb “to lay” means “to lean, press upon” with all one’s might! A heavy load!
Then … Aaron was to “send him (that goat) away by the hand of a FIT MAN into the wilderness.” Leviticus 16:21
I am especially interested this morning in that “fit man!”
I am positive that scapegoat is a picture of Jesus, the Sin-Bearer! Isaiah 53:6 declares … “The LORD hath laid on (caused to fall) him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.” On the Cross!
Do remember that the scapegoat’s “twin” has been slain already, his blood offered as a “Sin Offering” unto Almighty God!
But there’s more … our sins have not merely been “atoned,” they also have been “banished!” We in our day (with our New Testaments) can say our sins are “washed away!”
And, on that great Day of Atonement, WHO literally led/carried that goat away, those sins away?
The “Fit Man” of whom I just spoke! (The Hebrew is “ittiy iysh.” Meaning the “timely” man! The “ready” man! The “seasonal” man! By implication, the “appointed man!”
I am suggesting too that this “MAN” is also a Type of Jesus our Saviour! Our dear Lord Who not only “shed His Blood” for our sins! Not only who “bore the load” of our sins! But who also “took our sins” out of sight! Into the wilderness! Never to be seen again!
Jesus as the Fit Man!
Hebrews 10:4 says (indirectly) that Jesus “took away” our sins! (“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4, but Jesus DID take away sins!)
And 1 John 3:5 powerfully and specifically says of Jesus: “And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.”
Wow!
“To take away!”
Yes, to do exactly what that fit man did long ago!
But better … Jesus did not have to repeat the task annually, as did some Jewish fit man!
Jesus “took away” our sins once and for all!
Hallelujah!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Yes, Jesus is FIT!
He is PERFECT too!
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