Where the Sacrifice Goes

Saturday, July 10, 2021

On Yom Kippur, the High Priest of Israel would stand in the courts of the Lord with two goats. Then he drew two lots, one for each goat, bearing on it the place to which the goat would go. One lot read "L'AZAZEL" or "TO THE WILDERNESS." That goat became the 'Wilderness Goat,' or the 'Scapegoat.' The other lot read "L'YAHVEH" or "TO THE LORD." This was the goat that was offered up on the altar as the Yom Kippur sacrifice. Now when they let the Scapegoat go, they could see it was going somewhere. But when they offered up the Sacrifice Goat, it didn't look like it was going anywhere. But the goat was going somewhere -- in the Lord's presence. And so when we sacrifice something for the Lord, we tend to think of it as a loss, but it's "TO THE LORD." When you give a gift to someone, you don't cry that you lost money. You rejoice in their joy of receiving it. So give your gift to the Lord with joy, offer your sacrifice with thanksgiving, for only what is given to the Lord can never be lost.

From Message #1275 - Azazel