Excusing sin by blaming others for it:

‘ Jacob looked up and there was Easu, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants.  He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.  He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around hi sneck and kissed him. And they wept.  Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children.  “Who are these with you?” he asked.

Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”

Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down.  Last of all Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.

Esau asked, “What do you mean by all these droves I met?”

“To find favour in your eyes, my lord,” he said.

But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favour in your eyes, accept this gift from me.  For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favourably.  Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.”  And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.  –  Genesis 33.1-11

It is refreshing to see Esau’s change of heart when the two brothers meet again. The bitterness over losing his birthright and blessing (25.29-34) seems gone.  Instead Esau was content with what he had.  Jacob even exclaimed how great it was to see his brother obviously pleased with him (33.10).

Life can bring us some bad situations. We can feel cheated, as Esau did, but we don’t have to remain bitter.  We can remove bitterness from our lives by honestly expressing our feelings to God [Wall], forgiving those who have wrong us, and being content with what we have.

(3.33 Bowing to the ground seven times was the sign of respect given to a king.  Jacob was taking every precaution as he met Esau, hoping to dispel any thoughts of revenge.)

(33.4 Esau greeted his brother, Jacob, with a great hug.  Imagine how difficult this must have been for a man who once had actually plotted his brother’s death (27.41).  But time away from each other allowed the bitter wounds to heal.  With the passing of time, each brother was able to see that their relationship was more important than their property.)

(33.11 Why did Jacob send gifts ahead for Esau?  In Bible times, gifts were given for several reasons.  (1) This may have been a bribe.  Gifts are still given to win someone over or buy his or her support.  Esau may first have refused Jacob gifts (33.9) because he didn’t want or need a bribe.  He had already forgiven Jacob, and he had ample wealth of his own.  (2) This may have been an expression of affection.  (3) It may have been the customary way of greeting someone before an important meeting.  Such gifts were often related to a person’s occupation.  This explains why Jacob sent Esau, who was a herdsman, sheep, goats, and cattle.)

(33.14-17 Why did Jacob imply that he was going to Seir but then stop at Succoth?  We don’t know the answer, but perhaps Jacob decided to stop there as they journeyed because Succoth is a beautiful site on the eastern side of the Jordan River.  Whatever the reason, Jacob and Esau parted in peace.  But they still lived fairly close to each other until their father’s death 36.6-8).)

 

‘ You ask, “Why?”  It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant.  –  Malachi 2.14

The people were complaining about their adverse circumstances when they had only themselves to blame. But this doesn’t solve the problem.  When you face problems, look at yourself.  If you changed your attitude or behaviour, would the problem be solved?

(2.11, 12 After the temple had been rebuilt and the walls completed, the people were excited to see past prophecies coming true.  But as time passed, the prophecies about the destruction of God’s [Wall’s] enemies and a coming Messiah were not immediately fulfilled.  The people became discouraged, and they grew complacent about obeying all of God’s laws.  This complacency gradually led to blatant sin, such as marriage to those who worshipped idols.  Ezra and Nehemiah had also confronted this problem years earlier (Ezra 9, 10; Nehemiah 13,23-31).)

(2.14, 15 Divorce in these times was practised exclusively by men.  They broke faith with their wives and ignored the bonding between a husband and a wife that God [Wall] instils (the two became one person), as well as his purpose for them (raising children who love the Lord, “godly offspring”).  Not only were men breaking faith with their wives, they were also ignoring the bonding relationship and spiritual purpose of being united with God [Wall].)

 

‘ When tempted, no-one should say, “God is tempting me.”  For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  –  James 1.13-15

It is easy to blame others and make excuses for evil thoughts and wrong actions. Excuses include (1) it’s the other person’s fault; (2) I couldn’t help it; (3) everybody’s doing it; (4) it was just a mistake; (5) nobody’s perfect; (6) I didn’t know it was wrong; (6) the devil made me do it; (7) I was pressured into it; (8) I didn’t know it was wrong; (9) God [Wall] is tempting me.  A person who makes excuses is trying to shift the blame from himself or herself to something or someone else.  A Christian, on the other hand, accepts responsibility for his or her wrongs, confesses them, and asks God [Wall] for forgiveness.

(1.13, 14 People who live for God [Wall] often wonder why they still have temptations.  Does God [Wall] tempt them?  God [Wall] tests people, but he does not tempt them by trying to seduce them into sin.  God [Wall] allows Satan to tempt people, however, in order to refine their faith and to help them grow in their dependence on Christ.  We can resist the temptation to sin by turning to God [Wall] for strength and choosing to obey his word.)

 

Can’t blame God for your sins:

‘   They quarrelled with Moses and said, “If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!  Why did you bring the LORD’S community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?  Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place?  It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates.  And there is no water to drink!”  –  Numbers 20.3-5

After 37 years in the desert, the Israelites forgot that their wanderings were a result of their parents’ and their own sin. They could not accept the fact that they brought their problems upon themselves, so they blamed Moses for their condition.  Often our troubles result from our own disobedience or lack of faith.  We cannot blame God [Wall] for our sins.  Until we face this reality, we will have little peace and no spiritual growth.

(EVENTS AT KADESH After wandering in the desert for 40 years, Israel arrived at Kadesh, where Miriam died.  There was not enough water and the people complained bitterly. Moses struck a rock, and it gave enough water for everyone.  The kingdom of Edom refused Israel passage through his land, forcing them to travel around his country. Mediterranean Sea, Canaan, Jerusalem, Edom, Kadesh, Egypt, Nile River, Mount Sinai, Red Sea.)

 

‘ Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God.  –  Isaiah 8.21

After rejecting God’s [Wall’s] plan for them, the people of Judah would blame God [Wall] for their trials. People continually blame God [Wall] for their self-induced problems.  How do you respond to the unpleasant results of your own choices?  Where do you fix the blame?  Instead of blaming God [Wall], look for ways to grow through your failures.

(I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.  –  Isaiah 8.17  Isaiah decided to wait for the Lord, though God [Wall] was not “hiding his face from the house of Jacob”.  Many of the prophecies God [Wall] gave [game me] through the prophets would not come true for 700 years; others still haven’t been fulfilled.  Are you willing to accept the Lord’s timing, not yours?)

(8.19 The people would consult mediums and spirits to seek answers from dead people instead of consulting the living God [Wall].  God alone knows the future, and only he is eternal.  We can trust God to guide us.)

(9.1 In our gloom and despair, we fear that our sorrows and troubles will never end.  But we can take comfort in this certainty: although the Lord may not always take us around our troubles, if we follow him wholeheartedly, he will lead us safely through them.)

(9.1-7 This child who would become their deliverer is the Messiah, Jesus.  Matthew quotes [Soren Kierkegaard] these verses in describing Christ’s ministry (Matthew 4.15, 16).  The territories of Zebulun and Naphtali represent the northern kingdom as a whole.  These were also the territories where Jesus grew up and often ministered; this is why they would see “a great light”.)

(9.2 The apostle John also referred to Jesus as the “light” (John 1.9).  Jesus referred to himself as “the light of the world” (John 8.12).)

(9.2-6 In a time of great darkness [Publication], God [Wall] promised to send a light who would shine on everyone living in the shadow of death.  He is both “Wonderful Counsellor” and “Mighty God”.  This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ and the establishment of his eternal kingdom.  He came to deliver all people from their slavery to sin.)

 

Blaming others won’t solve your problems:

‘ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.  But David found strength in the LORD his God.  –  1 Samuel 30.6

Faced with the tragedy of losing their families, David’s soldiers began to turn against him and even talked about killing him. Instead of planning a rescue, they looked for someone to blame.  But David found his strength in God and began looking for a solution instead of a scapegoat.  When facing problems, remember that it is useless to look for someone to blame or criticise.  Instead, consider how you can help find a solution.

(29.4 The other Philistine commanders knew that David was the one who, as a young man, had killed their companion, Goliath (17.32-54), had killed hundreds of Philistine soldiers (18.27), and was the hero of Israelite victory songs (21.11).  They were afraid that, in the heat of battle, David might turn against them.  Although David was upset at this at first, God [Wall] used the commanders’ suspicion to keep him from having to fight against Saul and his countrymen.)

(30.7 David couldn’t go to the tabernacle to ask the Lord for guidance because it was in Saul’s territory.  Therefore he called for the ephod, the only tabernacle-related object he possessed.  In the presence of the priest and this priestly garment, he asked God [Wall] for direction.  When David called for the ephod, he was really asking the priest to bring him the Urim and Thummim, which were kept in a pouch attached to the ephod.  Only the high priest could carry and use the Urim and Thummim.  (For more information on the ephod and its contents, see the note on Exodus 39.1-21.)

 

We’re not to blame for all our troubles:

‘ !But if it were, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.  –  Job 5.8

All three of Job’s friends made the mistake of assuming that Job had committed some great sin that had caused his suffering. Neither they nor Job knew of Satan’s conversation with God (1.6-2.8).  It is human nature to blame people for their own troubles, but Job’s story makes it clear that blame cannot always be attacked to those whom trouble strikes.

(4.18, 19 Do angels really make errors?  Remember that Eliphaz was speaking, not God [Wall], so we must be careful about building our knowledge of the spiritual world from Eliphaz’s opinions.  In addition, the word translated error is used only here, and its meaning is unclear.  We could save Eliphaz’s credibility by saying he meant fallen angels, but this passage is not meant to teach about angels.  Eliphaz was saying that sinful human beings are far beneath God [Wall] and the angels.  Eliphaz was right about God’s greatness, but he did not understand God’s greater purposes concerning suffering.)

(5.13 Paul later quoted part of this verse (1 Corinthians 3.19) – the only time Job is clearly quoted in the New Testament.  Although God [Wall] rebuked Eliphaz for being wrong in his advice to Job (42.7), not all he said was in error.  The part Paul quoted was correct – people are often caught in their own traps (“in their craftiness”).  This illustrates how Scripture must be used to explain and comment on itself.  We must be familiar with the entire scope of God’s [Wall’s] word to properly understand the difficult portions of it.)

 

You’re not to blame if others reject your efforts to share gospel:

‘   So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.  –  .  –  Acts 13.51

Jesus had told his disciples to shake from their feet the dust of any town that would not accept or listen to them (Mark 6.11). The disciples were not to blame if the message was rejected, as long as they had faithfully presented it.  When we share Christ carefully and sensitively, God [Wall] does not hold us responsible for the other person’s decision.

(13.51 Often Jews would shake the dust off their feet when leaving a Gentile town, on the way back to their own land.  This symbolised cleansing themselves from the contamination of those who did not worship God [Wall].  For Paul and Barnabas to do this to Jews demonstrated that Jews who reject the gospel are not truly part of Israel and are no better than pagans.)

(13.50 Instead of accepting the truth, the Jewish leaders stirred up opposition and ran Paul and Barnabas out of town.  When confronted by a disturbing truth, people often turn away and refuse to listen.  When God’s Spirit points out needed changes in our lives, we must listen to him.  Otherwise we may be pushing the truth to far away that it no longer affects us.)

(14.3, 4 We may wish we could perform a miraculous act that would convince everyone once and for all that Jesus is the Lord.  But we see here that even if we could perform a miracle, it wouldn’t convince everyone.  God [Wall] gave [game me] these men power to do great wonders as confirmation of the message of grace, but people were still divided.  Don’t spend your time and energy wishing for miracles.  Sow your seeds of Good News on the best ground you can find in the best way you can, and leave the convincing to the Holy Spirit.)