The Blame Game

The tendency to blame someone else for our sinful behavior can be traced all the way back to the Garden. This aspect of our sin nature is not benign and harmless whatsoever. In fact, as long as Satan can keep us walking blindly in this deception, he will have an open door in our lives.

In Genesis 3 we read that after Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit and ate ,their eyes were opened and they knew that they were naked. So they hid from God! Seems silly to think that they "hid" from God , but don't we do the same? We sin then act like we can go into hiding and the LORD cannot see! Just shove it under the rug and keep on truckin'.

After they disobeyed God, the Lord comes to them in the Garden. He then asks Adam a very direct, simple, uncomplicated question. Pretty basic question that calls for a Yes or a No. But notice Adam's response:

Gen 3: 11-12 shows us the very origin of the Blame Game Propensity of which we all are guilty!  God asks, " Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat? And the man said, " The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate."

Did you, Adam, eat ? Yes or No? Eventually Adam got to the answer but first he spewed out an essay. One word would have been the right response but instead he danced all around because he knew he was guilty. 

Then God speaks to Eve, asking her in verse 13, " What is this you have done? Her reply? " The serpent deceived me, and I ate" God didn't ask her what the serpent did. God asked her what she did.

Satan loves to keep us playing the blame game. Rambling on about why we are being disobedient. Trying to justify our rebellion. "It's the stinkin' situation", we moan. " Lord. Its my boss .He is so unreasonable."  "It's my health, I don't feel well! If I just felt better...." 

 Just answer the question! Did you sin? To pump out an essay of excuses only  hinders the fellowship with our Lord. It keeps the waters murky and prevents true repentance. Repentance is the doorway to freedom. Jesus said, " you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free". Stopping short of full blown truth will keep us in bondage. 

When you have sinned, don't look for all the people and circumstances that have made you a " victim". Cut to the core and answer the question with sincere honesty. Did you sin? Yes or No. Leave your coworker out of the picture. Leave Mom, Dad, spouse, and  neighbor out of it. It's not the dog's fault either!( Even if he did barf on the rug!) God did not ask you about them. He asked you, "did you sin?" 

1 John 1: 9-10 says this, " If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

May we all make that commitment to just stop with the blame game, get real with God, and live in the freedom that Christ gives to those who abide in Him. Genuine repentance is impossible when its clouded by blaming others! 

 

 The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent.( Ex 14: 14)

In Exodus 14 we find that the children of Israel have left Egypt and and are being led in the wilderness by God Himself. The LORD went before them by day with a pillar of cloud and by night by a pillar of fire. Surely they are elated to be free from their slavery in Egypt. All is well and good! Yay! Finally! 

But then the LORD speaks to Moses, and announces that He will harden Pharaoh's heart so that he will change his mind and chase after them. Exodus 14:4 tells us this," Thus I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will chase after them; and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD." and they did so. 

Ever been there? God " delivered you", "fixed your issue", or so you thought? "Woohoo, I'm free"  you're singing, and then BAM! Here comes a pharaoh chasing after you!  Scratching your head, you find yourself wondering and asking God, "Wait, didn't You just set me free from that and now here is the "new and improved 2.0 version"?  Really? 

If we fast forward through this account we find Moses speaking to the people who are obviously very frightened by this time, as they hear the Egyptians closing in on them. As they see the enemy drawing closer, they open their mouths and let Moses have it! ( Ex14: 11-12)  When the enemy of our soul is in hot pursuit, our flesh really feels the need to lash at at somebody! 

Moses pointed then right back to the One who orchestrated it all, the LORD God Almighty! Ex 14:13-14 gives us his response, " But Moses said to the people, ' Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."

Stand by, keep silent because it isn't your fight! The LORD will fight on your behalf because it is for HIS glory. The LORD will get the glory and the honor in our battles because it is HIS battle. He will prove that He is the ONE and ONLY who can deliver His people when we are in what seems to be a hopeless situation. 

Stand still. Stop hosting a panic party, an emergency meeting to figure out plan B. It is not your job to figure out what to do next. Don't drop into despair, depression and "hide under the covers" mode either! The LORD does not tell us to pout and have a pity party.  Don't go into "super -saint spiritual" mode and broadcast a play by play commentary for your audience on behalf of God. It is just foolish to think that we can understand all that God is doing! 

 Just stop. Stand still and watch. Watch the LORD do His thing and fight for you! It will be glorious and amazing, but just stop with the toddler meltdown mode! Silence really is golden when we watch with great expectation for the supernatural deliverance that can only come from the mighty hand of our LORD! 

 In Thee I have Taken Refuge: Psalm 31:1

The Psalms are beautiful poetic treasures that I love to read. How awesome it would be to hear them sung in Hebrew by the people of God in that generation of long ago. 

Although they are exquisite literary gems, I am reminded that like the rest of God's Word they must be applied practically if they are to be of any benefit. If I simply read them, admire them, and claim one as my favorites, I am no better off. I must meditate upon them and ask my self the hard questions.

"In Thee I have taken refuge" David writes as he begins Psalm 31. Here is David being chased and hunted down by an angry King Saul. David is not just being super spiritual and speaking " churchy" "spiritual" language. He knows that his God of the mountain is also the God of the valley. Its not just some religious idea to Him. He personally knows that his God is his refuge. His safety and hiding place.

Do I take refuge in God from the troubles of life? Or do I seek to solve all my issues in my own strength, on my timetable, according to my logic? Is it really in God where I put my confidence and trust to deliver me from the current crisis?  Am I fleeing to Him for protection, provision and peace? 

My response to the trouble will answer that question. If I say " yes"  but am still wrestling with anxious thoughts, working hard to find the  remedy, and finding only frustration I'm not taking refuge in God. If my words say one thing but my reality is feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by it all, I can be pretty sure that I am NOT taking refuge in the Lord. Very often I'm trusting human logic and or listening to the voice of the enemy of my soul.

Verse 5 was quoted by Jesus on the cross " Into Thy hand I commit my sprit; Though hast ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth."  To mouth the words is one thing but to mean them is an entirely different level.

Jesus knew that He was fully surrendered to do the Father's will. He was not kicking and screaming as He went to the cross nor while He hung on the cross. In fact He was still ministering while upon the cross. " Father forgive them for they know not what they do"  He uttered forth in the midst of great pain.(Luke 23:34 ) Even in excruciating circumstances, He made sure that His mother Mary would be taken care of by John as well. ( John 19:26) 

Stephen while being stoned to death is not panicking and having a meltdown. He knew his God was His refuge and nothing that man could do to him could ever take that away. He left this earth with eyes turned to the heavens, anticipating that heavenly home where he would see the Risen Lord face to face.  In fact, he too makes reference to this psalm in his last words on this earth," Lord Jesus receive my spirit" (Acts 7: 59) 

You and I may not be on a cross of crucifixion ( Praise God! ) or be on the ground being stoned to death ( Praise God!) but can we honestly say, in this same attitude,  "Into Thy hand " I commit my entire being ?  every fiber of my being? It is only in You Lord I take refuge. And what a wonderful refuge we find when we seek that protection in Him and in Him alone.