The Scapegoat

Scripture: Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the Lord and the other for the scapegoat. Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 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. ... When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness. Leviticus 16:7-10,20-22


Observation: This must surely be the source of the definition of the term "scapegoat". On the annual day of atonement, God designates a goat that will not be sacrificed. Instead, Aaron will confess all the sins of Israel and "put them on the goat's head", then have the goat walked away from the people and released into the wilderness.


There is an interesting juxtaposition in this order. This goat has its life spared, yet is cast away ... God provides for a sacrifice to atone for sin, yet lays the sins also on a living animal to be carried into the world ... the curse of sin is placed on the animal's head, then an individual is designated to care for the animal.


Today, we use the term "scapegoat" to mean the person being blamed for failure. In a way, the definition still holds - the "sins" of the situation (a failed project, a mistake, a team loss, poor service) are assigned to one person, and that person sometimes sent away. Cast into the wilderness. However, there are two elements to the atonement ritual we forget now days. First, that the other goat is actually sacrificed. And second, that the reason for a scapegoat is because of the sins of others.


Application: As a leader, I have and will see employees who are "scapegoated" when things go wrong. The biblical source of this concept would advise me to consider several other issues when I see this happen:


-- What is the real problem (the 'sin') that is being placed on the head of the scapegoat, and how should that be addressed?


-- Who else is about to be (metaphorically) sacrificed for this issue?


-- How can I provide for the care of the scapegoat?


Prayer: Dear Lord, I find Leviticus challenging because, while there seems to be both strange and practice instructions about basic issues like hygiene and human interactions, what I keep finding are metaphors that guide modern life. From cleaning leather, to caring for goats, to preventing the spread of disease, there must be a reason you - the creator of the universe - chose to discuss such minutia. Please help me to find your wisdom, truth, teaching, and love every day. Amen.