It wasn't an all age service on Sunday - but we were looking at the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).
The drama of the Day of Atonement involves the sacrifice of 5 of these animals - but one goat, the 'Scape Goat' gets to live another day (possibly - depending on wolves, lions, bears etc).
The role of the Scape Goat in this drama is that the High Priest lays his hands on its head, confesses the sin of the people over it, and then it is led off and released into the wilderness. It goes off, with the sins of the people, never to be seen again - symbolising how God removes our sin from us.
As the drama unfolded before us on Sunday the Scape Goat was led out into the wilderness - and left on the bookcase at the back of the church. Unfortunately (for the toddler group) by the time the service ended and I came to collect all my resources the Scape Goat had indeed - disappeared into the wilderness - it was no where to be seen.
The irony of searching for the Scape Goat after the events of the Day of Atonement shouldn't be lost on us. God has removed our sins - why would we go looking for them again? But in reality how often do our Scape Goats return? We confess our sin and receive God's forgiveness - but then a day, a week, a month, a year later we hear that accusing voice, 'did God really forgive you that...?' And we begin to doubt our freedom. We continue to live defined by our past sin - never able to escape.
Those of you who are involved in the toddler group will be pleased to know that this particular scape goat did return - I found him on top of the TV in the foyer during the week - and it is now safely back in the toy cupboard.
But when it comes to God's forgiveness - God has promised that he will forgive and he will forget.
Once our Scape Goats have gone, don't let's go looking for them again.
The role of the Scape Goat in this drama is that the High Priest lays his hands on its head, confesses the sin of the people over it, and then it is led off and released into the wilderness. It goes off, with the sins of the people, never to be seen again - symbolising how God removes our sin from us.
As the drama unfolded before us on Sunday the Scape Goat was led out into the wilderness - and left on the bookcase at the back of the church. Unfortunately (for the toddler group) by the time the service ended and I came to collect all my resources the Scape Goat had indeed - disappeared into the wilderness - it was no where to be seen.
The irony of searching for the Scape Goat after the events of the Day of Atonement shouldn't be lost on us. God has removed our sins - why would we go looking for them again? But in reality how often do our Scape Goats return? We confess our sin and receive God's forgiveness - but then a day, a week, a month, a year later we hear that accusing voice, 'did God really forgive you that...?' And we begin to doubt our freedom. We continue to live defined by our past sin - never able to escape.
But when it comes to God's forgiveness - God has promised that he will forgive and he will forget.
Once our Scape Goats have gone, don't let's go looking for them again.
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