Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Light at the End of the Tunnel (01/23/14)
-
TITLE: What are The Chances? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jack Taylor
01/28/14 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Yoni Cohen knuckled the edges of his eyeballs one more time. The yellowed tractate’s message was indisputable. The flickering candles were bright enough to leave no doubt.
“It is true then? The message from Yonna 39b?”
Yoni tugged at his auburn goatee and turned toward the robed figure stepping out of the shadows. “Yes, for 40 years before the destruction of the Temple the Yom Kippur sacrifice was rejected by Hashem.”
“Look at this number. Rav Hirsch figured it out. I retrieved it from his trash.”
Yoni held the crinkled paper closer to the three wicks waving in the gentle breeze. He smoothed it on the oak table and read aloud. “The chances that God did not accept the Atonement sacrifice at the Temple for 40 years straight are 1,099,511,627,775 to one.” The young rabbinical student stared at his mentor. “Samuel, what does this mean?”
“That’s the chances of the lot not coming up in the right hand of the Cohen Gadol for 40 years straight.”
“I realize that. I know when the lots were cast by the High Priest for the two identical goats that everyone knew the result. The one named L’Hashem would mark the Atonement sacrifice to the Lord and the one named L’Azazel would mark the scapegoat to be led into the wilderness. If the Lord’s lot came up in the right hand the sacrifice was acceptable. If it came up in the left hand it was rejected.”
“Yes. So for 40 years before the Temple was destroyed the Atonement sacrifice was rejected, the scarlet ribbon on the scapegoat’s horn did not turn white, the westernmost light never shone, and the doors of the courtyard would open by themselves.”
Black curls fixed to a smiling cherub bobbed out from behind the robes of Samuel. “Uncle Yoni. Why did the goat’s ribbon not turn white?”
Yoni hoisted the lad up on his knee and pointed at the bulky Torah lying on the desk. “In Vayikira 16 we see that the Cohen Gadol – the High Priest – took two goats. One became the Atonement sacrifice and one became the scapegoat. The High Priest would put his two hands on the head of the Scapegoat and confess all the sins and transgressions of God’s people on him. That goat had a scarlet ribbon tied to his horn.”
Samuel concluded the lesson. “When the other goat was sacrificed for the Atonement, if it was accepted, the ribbon on the living scapegoat turned white. We learn this from prophet Isaiah when he says ‘though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow.’”
The lad didn’t hesitate. “My friend Freddie says that when Yeshua H’Mashiach died Hashem didn’t accept Temple sacrifices anymore.”
“The timing is surely a coincidence, my son. The years before the Temple was destroyed were years of hatred and jealousy. We have kept our faith for thousands of years and the Temple sacrifice will one day be restored. Surely, then Hashem will accept the Atonement.”
Yoni added his thought. “Levi, we do not refer to Yeshua as H’Mashiach. The missionaries try to confuse our people with their talk of a Messiah who has already come. You must keep your mind on the Torah and not be confused by their talk.”
Levi furrowed his brow. “But Freddie isn’t a missionary and you are the one who said that it is true. The Atonement sacrifice was rejected for 40 years. From the time that Yeshua was killed.”
Samuel hoisted the lad back onto his feet. “During Second Temple the Eternal One continually blessed the priests and accepted the sacrifice. It is surely as your Uncle Yoni said. A coincidence. Come, your mother needs you.”
Yoni watched the lad skip out of the underground study and up the stairs. When Samuel slumped beside him he sighed. “What can we do with these Messianics who dig in our Torah and probe through our rabbinical teaching to support this view of Yeshua? You can see how even youths are being corrupted.”
Samuel scratched at his full beard. “Corrupted is a strong word when one is faced with truth.”
“It plagues my mind that we no longer have blood for our priests to sprinkle in the Kodesh Hakodashim (the Holy of Holies). I feel like I’ve been abandoned in a long dark tunnel.”
“Perhaps the light has just come to your tunnel.”
“What? Are you also his follower?”
“I am a follower of truth and light wherever it leads.”
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
God bless~