Day 26: Genesis 3:12-13
Devotional
READ GENESIS 3:12-13
“It wasn’t my fault!” As a parent, I hear this all the time. One of my kids will do something they shouldn’t have done, then when I correct them, they immediately explain to me how it was actually someone or something else that caused them to do it. Sometimes, they even blame us as parents for FORCING them to make the mistake through our own bad parenting. Sadly, it’s not just kids who struggle with this. All of us fail to own our mistakes at times.
In Genesis 3:12-13 we see Adam and Eve explaining to God why they disobeyed Him. How do they explain it? They play the blame game. Adam starts by pointing the finger at Eve, but also at God. He doesn’t own up to the fact that he ate the fruit. He points out that it was the woman who gave it to him. Furthermore, he reminds God that she’s only there because God put her there. Don’t forget, he was singing her praises back in 2:23. Suddenly his tune changes after being confronted with his own failure. When God turns to Eve, she does the same thing! She says the serpent deceived her. While this is true, notice that she’s still putting the blame on the deceiver. At no point in this exchange do either Adam or Eve confess that they were disobedient.
It's so tempting to shift the blame when we’re disobedient to God. It’s easy to point the finger at our circumstances or the people around us or even God himself as the cause of our failures. When we do this, we rob ourselves of the freedom that comes with confessing sin and owning our mistakes. When a relationship is broken, there’s healing when we take ownership of our part in that brokenness. When we’ve hurt people, we often find forgiveness when we simply admit that we hurt them and are sorry. Let’s quit playing the blame game when we mess up and see what God can do through our willingness to own the mistakes we make.
“It wasn’t my fault!” As a parent, I hear this all the time. One of my kids will do something they shouldn’t have done, then when I correct them, they immediately explain to me how it was actually someone or something else that caused them to do it. Sometimes, they even blame us as parents for FORCING them to make the mistake through our own bad parenting. Sadly, it’s not just kids who struggle with this. All of us fail to own our mistakes at times.
In Genesis 3:12-13 we see Adam and Eve explaining to God why they disobeyed Him. How do they explain it? They play the blame game. Adam starts by pointing the finger at Eve, but also at God. He doesn’t own up to the fact that he ate the fruit. He points out that it was the woman who gave it to him. Furthermore, he reminds God that she’s only there because God put her there. Don’t forget, he was singing her praises back in 2:23. Suddenly his tune changes after being confronted with his own failure. When God turns to Eve, she does the same thing! She says the serpent deceived her. While this is true, notice that she’s still putting the blame on the deceiver. At no point in this exchange do either Adam or Eve confess that they were disobedient.
It's so tempting to shift the blame when we’re disobedient to God. It’s easy to point the finger at our circumstances or the people around us or even God himself as the cause of our failures. When we do this, we rob ourselves of the freedom that comes with confessing sin and owning our mistakes. When a relationship is broken, there’s healing when we take ownership of our part in that brokenness. When we’ve hurt people, we often find forgiveness when we simply admit that we hurt them and are sorry. Let’s quit playing the blame game when we mess up and see what God can do through our willingness to own the mistakes we make.
Personal Reflection
- Why do you think we have such a tendency to blame someone else for our mistakes?
- Have you ever decided to fully own a mistake with someone? How did that go?
- How does admitting a mistake help you get past it?
Posted in The Beginning Devotionals
3 Comments
Blame shifting is real. If it’s someone else’s fault, I’m not responsible. I find myself blaming others for things I mistake responsibility for. Ownership and confession of sin is hard. Great reminder today to do the hard work that leads to freedom.
Years ago, I came into the office one morning and took ownership of a conflict with a co-worker the previous day, I apologized and asked for forgiveness. She teared up and shared that no one had EVER apologized to her before. I am still reminded that our testimonies can be quiet and gentle in that when we walk in our secured identity in Christ, we will look different to the world.
Going through Regen helped me become (somewhat) courageous in sharing my struggles openly and recognizing that my inventory of sin is a measure of God’s grace and love for me. Yet, having learned that lesson significantly over a year-long process, I still find myself wanting to dig out and wear the mask I thought I buried. Thanks for the reminder that confessing sin and owning our mistakes brings freedom!