Opus 2011-359, Christian Cliches: Scapegoat

Have you ever been the scapegoat?  This term has come to mean the one who is blamed for someone else’s failure.  It is a term from the Bible.

Look over Leviticus 16.  It has to do with the sacrificial system.  The first use of the term deals with the selection,

(Leviticus 16:10 KJV)  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.

This goat is not to be sacrificed.  It is to be let go, but a special ritual is to be performed first.

(Leviticus 16:21 KJV)  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, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

The goat is the one who receives all of the blame for the sins of Israel.  It is then taken out into the wilderness and released.  The goat did nothing.  It was chosen by lot.  It was blamed.

So when you are the scapegoat it is no reflection on you, but you will be blamed.

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