“Atonement will be made for you on this day to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the LORD” (Leviticus 16:30). He knew it was impossible for the Israelites to overcome this deadly dilemma on their own. Here’s the good news that weaves through the Bible: God had a plan to conquer sin. Sin had to be dealt with-atoned for-if God was going to dwell among His people in the tented temple. As darkness is destroyed by light, so sinful people cannot survive in the presence of a perfect God. Ever since humans rejected attachment and relationship with God by disobeying Him (Genesis 3), there had to be separation between God and His people.

To understand this annual holy day, we remember that Israel had a big problem-sin. Let’s follow this curiosity into the center of the book of Leviticus where we find God’s plan for the Day of Atonement. How curious that the sight of blood causes such intense, visceral reactions. If she gets a blood draw or even a finger prick, her vision fades and she breaks into a cold, clammy sweat. This tongue-twisting term warns medical personnel that she faints at the sight of blood. “Vasovagal syncope” is typed at the top of my friend’s chart.

Openoffice draw page two