The Blame Game

“Where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9)

God asked the question but knew exactly where Adam and Eve were. They were hiding, and He knew where. When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to care for it, He gave them only one command concerning food in the garden: Eat freely of every tree except one (2:15–17). But they disobeyed. Immediately convicted of their wrongdoing, they hid. And thus, the blame game began. Adam blamed Eve, the wife God gave him; Eve blamed the serpent, one of God’s creations, implying their failure was God’s fault.

Offering invalid reasons for neglecting one’s duty has spanned thousands of years to our present day. Excuses and blame will continue until God makes all things new on this earth. Have you ever noticed the word but, if, or when is often used in statements people give as valid reasons whether to do, say, think, or feel something concerning a person, thing, or mission—even if that person is God? Moses doubted God’s sustaining power to use his ineloquent speech to deliver the Hebrews from Egypt by saying, “But they (the Egyptians) will not believe me” (Exodus 4:1). Gideon wanted a sign from God when he said, “If You will save Israel by my hand, as You said. . .” (Judges 6:36). Thomas said he would believe Jesus rose from the grave only when he put his finger in the nail prints and his hand in the side of Jesus (John 20:25).

Before you cast judgment on these Bible characters, remember that you, too, have “invalid reasons for neglecting your duty”—or excuses—just as I do. If we are honest with ourselves, we’ll admit we are sometimes guilty of the blame game. When we use our paltry excuses for the whys and why not of life, we accuse God. We declare if He had or had not acted, things would have been different. No, they would not. God blessed us with the ability to choose right over wrong, but we choose wrongly sometimes.

Have you neglected your duty on a matter and convinced yourself that your excuses are valid? They are not. Where are you? You cannot hide from God; He knows where you are. King David, the man after God’s own heart, set an example on how to respond when faced with admitting failure. Rather than offer excuses for his behavior, he confessed his sin and asked God for forgiveness; God forgave him. We have the same opportunity to make the right decision (1 John 1:8–10).