Week 6 Day of Atonement

The Lord, instituted many feast days among Israel, they all had their significance and always pointed back to Christ. The Day of Atonement was the most sacred of them all. This day served as a sign to Israel that they had been atoned for, and that they were restored to a state in which they could be fellowshipped with God again.

Aaron had to make atonement for himself and his house before he could offer and atonement for Israel. I believe this was necessary, because he represented the great high priest Christ who when he offered the literal atonement was perfect and holy, therefore the high priest officiating would need to be clean as well.

Two goats were used as a in the ritual. One was sacrificed and its blood offered for Israel symbolic of Christ. The second was the scapegoat which had Israel’s sins vicariously placed upon it and being led out and left in the wilderness symbolic of Satan.

I believe both goats helped to portray different aspects of the Atonement. One shedding its blood was to give life and the other to represent the taking of our sins upon him as well as separating our sin from us and seeing them no more. It also portrayed the vicarious nature of the atonement.

We have heard the word vicarious many times, we use it refer namely to temple work for those who have long slept and are not capable of performing the ordinances for themselves. God has always aloud this kind of merciful act of service to be performed by others as long as it was done by one having authority. So it is with the Atonement. Christ had the authority to perform the act and vicariously represented each of us as he offered himself, doing that which we could not do for ourselves, namely reconcile ourselves to God.

Murmuring; a Past and Present Problem

Exodus chapters 15 thru 17 can show us a great deal about the Lord and his patience and mercy for his children. When I read these chapters I feel a little taken back by the attitude of the Israelites. They have just been delivered by the hand of God through Moses. When first arriving at Marah the water there was bitter or undrinkable, the people quickly began to murmur, notwithstanding three days earlier they walked across the Red Sea on dry ground. One might think what is wrong with these people. After two months the children of Israel again become disgruntled with Moses for the want of food. At this point the people are wishing they were still in bondage in Egypt. The scripture isn’t clear about how much time passes before the people again become angry with Moses and almost ready to stone him, for the want of water.

This pattern goes on and on and even begins before they have even been delivered from Egypt. Even though miracles occur before their very eyes they still complain and are ready to jump ship at every hardship. We might be tempted to stand back and think with some self-righteous indignation that we would never do that, or would we? Why is it that people murmur against God and his prophets? May I suggest that we are not that far removed from our ancient Israelite forerunners. How many of us has asked why me or said that’s not fair when trouble finds us?  When economic hardships come, do we expect that the church or government programs should step in and save us; while we sit back with and murmur about the hard lot we have been dealt.

We find in the Book of Mormon the Brethren of Nephi murmur against their father and the Lord over and over again. They too had seen miracles and angels yet they still complained and strayed off the path. The difference to me is two main points. One, are we humble enough to endure and grow from our experiences. Do we believe that we should be entitled to Gods blessings without any trouble along the way? Two, where are our testimonies, and what have we set our hearts upon. We need to remember the blessings we have received and have faith that our Father will continue to help us, though we may have to struggle and stretch ourselves to find the relief and salvation he has for us. There is real danger in murmuring, I have seen this in those I have known both family and friends. When we are disposed to murmuring and criticizing the Lord and his anointed darkness comes and the spirit leave and soon apostasy occurs and we leave the solid ground of truth.