AT ONE MENT

“For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
Leviticus 17:11

It is on the eve of Yom Kippur, Erev Yom Kippur, that Jewish people from all over will begin a twenty-five hour fast come sunset. The fast itself is a time of dedicating one’s body to Adonai, forsaking the pleasures of even food and water for a short time, so as to come into a deeper unity with Adonai in the new year. The term Yom Kippur is seen in the Torah as plural, written as Yom Ha-Kippurim, indicating the process of cleansing from transgressions, iniquities, and sins. The term also alludes to the two great atonements given by the LORD. These include the nations turning to Yeshua for cleansing and forgiveness, as well as the purification of ethnic Isra’el during the great Day of the LORD in the end times.
Kippurim translates into “a day like Purim”. If you recall the spring festival of Purim, you may also recall it was the celebration of the salvation of the Jewish race under Esther. Promoted as Queen, Adonai placed Esther in a key position for a specific time. Her act of bravery in going before the King uncalled and requesting he come to a dinner she was having, in which she begged for the lives of the Jews, brought about not only the death of Haman, but also the salvation of the Jews. It is this same truth that we find relating to us at this holiday as Yom Kippur celebrates our deliverance and salvation for which Yeshua sacrificed Himself on the cross, delivering us from the hands on our enemy.
It is in Leviticus 17:11 we read that the blood of the sacrifice paved the way for our atonement. The verse reads, “For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.” Without this price paid or atonement made, our sin would continue to separate us from Adonai. It is because of His love for us that we have been redeemed and given access. It is because of His payment that we have been sought after for unity with Him. It is because of His atonement – His at one ment, that we are able to have relationship with Him.
The message within all the Torah is simple – Adonai is holy and we also must live our lives to reflect His holiness. As such we read of the things that are clean, blessed, and right in contrast to those that are dirty, cursed, and sinful. We are to be holy as He is holy. But we are human and prone to sin. Adonai knew this would be a fact for we have freewill. Yet He did not create us and leave us to live without a chance. Rather He made a way for us to be redeemed from the curse. Yeshua HaMashiach is our high priest and has offered a true atonement for our sin. He has paved the way for our at one ment, let us then come before Him, confessing our sin and turning from our wrong way and embrace a oneness with Him.

Leviticus 17:8 – 18:21