It shall be, if [such a sin] is committed inadvertently by the congregation, it being hidden from their eyes, the entire congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering…and one he-goat for a sin-offering. (Num. 15:24)

Rashi comments that the word "sin-offering" [chatat] is written with the letter alef.

The Master of the World can be found even in the sins of a totally wicked person….

If a person has complete knowledge and faith that in every concealment and foreign thought G‑d's Presence is hidden, then there is no concealment at all. This is because the knowledge and faith that the Master of the World, the Divine Life-force, is in every movement and thought, both big and small, immediately causes "the workers of iniquity to be dispersed" (Psalms 92:10). The evil falls away and the divine light and life-force becomes revealed. The Master of the World can be found even in the sins of a totally wicked person, in one who is burning to sin. The only exception is the sin of idolatry, as it is written, "…one he-goat for a sin-offering," which lacks the letter alef. [The alef represents the "Alupho shel Olam" - or "the Master of the world"].

A person should think: "How can I make my Creator angry by misusing the very life-force that He gives me, and seeing that He is actually with me? How can I commit this great evil?" One should even partake of permissible desires with a spirit of holiness and humility, and with an awareness of the divine vitality within them. If you do this, you will easily dispel the evil, and become a different person - a holy person who is bound in love to G‑d, who experiences true "love of delights" (Songs 7:7). You will easily attain Divine Inspiration, and the spirit of G‑d will guide you.

Sometimes, however, [the verse applies]: "Hiding, I will hide My face" (Deut. 31:18). Then, the concealment itself is hidden, and a person does not feel any vitality at all. He knows nothing, and forgets that G‑d is with him. This happens because he lost his faith and trust in G‑d and turned to false gods. At that moment he is subject to divine retribution. For as long as a person clings to G‑d in perfect faith, no evil can befall him at all - only love and affection.

[Excerpted from Leket Imrei Peninim, p.206b, in Sefer Baal Shem Tov on the Torah.]