Quite arguably the oldest game in the history of mankind is the “blame game” which has its origins in the garden of Eden, after the fall of man, when man sinned against God. When God questioned Adam, if he had eaten the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and of evil, which God had commanded him not to eat of, Adam fessed up that he did eat. However, before his confession, he frivolously attempts to blame it on his woman and then audaciously attempts to blame his sin on God (Genesis 3:12). Then when God asked the woman, “What is that you have done?”, she also fessed up that she did eat, but before she confessed, she also attempted to shift the blame on the serpent (the devil) whom she said beguiled her (Genesis 3:13).
Eve blamed the devil (ancient serpent – Revelation 12:9), who is guilty as charged, for he is a deceiver of the world (Revelation 12:9), but did you notice, Adam, not only tried to blame the woman (who was made to be his help meet), but he also tried to blame God by saying, the woman that you (God) have given to be with me, is the one who made him sin.
Points to ponder:
Even today, there are those who futilely attempt to blame their circumstances or others for their personal failures in the spiritual realms. Some go so far as to even blame God but the scripture makes it very clear that God cannot be tempted with evil nor does he tempt anyone, but each man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed, as was Eve and Adam (James 1:13-14).
Infact, the devil is the tempter (Matthew 4:3), but it is man and woman who sins out of their own lusts. We have no one to blame but ourselves when we disobey God to gratify our selfish desires. If we are playing the blame game, for our sinful lifestyle and personal disobediences against God’s commandments, let us stop playing this blame game, blaming others and certainly not, blame our failures on God. Instead let us watch and pray that we shall not fall into temptations and let us endure it, for when we are tried, we shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him (James 1:12).
Genesis 3:12-13 (KJV)
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
James 1:13-14 (KJV)
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
James 1:12 (KJV)
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
