Azazel
עֲזָאזֵל
From the Temple to the Wilderness
T he sacrifices of Yom Kippur, also called Day of Atonement or Day of Covering, include two male goats which symbolize two different actions. Vayiqra (Leviticus) 16 describes the services for the temple which progress outside to the wilderness. The roles of the two goats are chosen by lot for the purpose each will fulfill in the observances of this day.
One of the goats is a sin offering and some of its blood is sprinkled by the high priest (Hebrew: kohen gadol) inside the Most Holy Place on and in front of the mercy seat according to verses 14-15 where blood from a bull sacrificed previously for the sins of the house of Aaron (the priests) has been sprinkled. Blood from the bull and this goat is also prinkled on the horns of the alter. This is done because of the uncleanness of the house of Israel.
The high priest then places his hands on the live goat (for Azazel) and confesses the sins of the people placing them on its head. The goat is then led into the wilderness by a man who waits ready. The goat is taken to a remote place and released carrying away the sins of Israel.
Symbols of Salvation
The goat for Azazel has different purposes according to different groups. Some believe that the goat of carrying away represents the adversary who deceived and led man into sin. Others see this differently. The scriptures provide the correct understanding of the symbolism of this part of the observances on this solemn day.
Isaiah 53 (Hebrew: yesayahu) contains a description of the Messiah and the work He does for His chosen people (John 6:37-40). Isaiah 53:3 tells of His understanding of sorrows and grief while verse 4 states that He bears the grief and sorrows. In Devarim 7:15 (Deuteronomy), Moshe instructs the people that if they follow the directives of the Creator, He will take away sickness ( חֳלִי ) from them and not place the diseases of Egypt on them. The word translated sickness here is the same Hebrew word used in Isaiah 53:3-4 for grief. In Devarim 28:61, this Hebrew word is used again, translated as sickness into English. In this instance, the Creator is telling Israel that the one who does not follow the Torah, will suffer. Refusal to follow Torah shows lack of faith. The Hebrew word translated carried in verse 4 is translated as bear in verse 11. Isaiah 53 clearly shows that the Messiah takes sin away.
From these scriptures, it is seen that Yeshua the Messiah takes this grief away if one follows Torah which obviously shows the faith of that person who takes advantage of this free gift (James 2:18) because he knows the Messiah will carry it away. He repents from wrongdoing, asks for forgiveness, and follows the directives of the perfect Creator. The free gift only available by the sacrifice of the perfect Messiah covers and carries away the sin, providing salvation. The goat which is offered as a sin offering sacrifice on Yom Kippur symbolizes the covering. The goat for Azazel represents the ultimate carrying away of that sin and sickness. Additionally, the ready man who leads that goat away shows that the Messiah is fit to do this work. When a person experiences this forgiveness, he becomes closer to the Creator receiving the Holy Spirit and eventually he will become one with the Creator as the Shema, specifically Devarim 6:4, shows and which is something the Messiah could claim as a perfect human being (John 10:30).
John the Baptist knew the purpose of the Messiah. In John 1:29, he sees the Messiah and proclaims that He is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. The Greek word translated sin is ἁμαρτία. This same Greek word is used in the Septuagint in Isaiah 53 in verses 4, 5, and 6. Note: The passover sacrifice can be a young sheep or goat according to Shemot (Exodus) 12:5. John continues with a description of the work the Messiah does and how he was instructed to teach about that work (John 1:30-34). The goat for Azazel that symbolically carries away sin on Yom Kippur clearly shows the purpose of the Messiah as does the goat whose blood was sprinkled as a sin offering. Matthew 8:14-17 points directly to Isaiah 53:4 and the work of the Messiah.
Conclusion
The adversary has no power at all to remove sin from man. In fact, he is an accuser and leads man into slavery and sickness. Additionally, it is illogical to believe that the one who leads man into sin would be symbolized in any way in the proper observances of the holy temple. There is no reason the temple system by its practices would ever remind the ones who are taught about the Creator by reminding them of the way the Creator saves while also reminding them of the origin of their shame and not focusing on the obvious and only way the sin is covered and carried away. The temple and its practices show man what the kingdom of heaven is and that kingdom does not contain evil nor any reminder of it.
There is only One who can cover the sin of man. There is only One who carries it away so it will never cause harm again. The Holy Spirit comes to the repentant believer from the Father in the name of Yeshua the Messiah (John 14:15-26) because he has faith in his Creator who sends it. Then, the believer who is made clean by the freely given gift gains salvation (Yeshua is a Hebrew word for salvation) and becomes like the Messiah who is One with the Father (i.e. a son of God - Revelation 21:1-7).
jbd
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