IS SOMEONE ELSE YOUR SCAPEGOAT?

When we have problems or faults and try to pin them on others and make them our scapegoat, it is unjust, it is cruel and it is certainly very displeasing to God. When things tend to go astray in our lives, the first thing many do is to look for someone else to pin the blame on. This is nothing new though. It even dates back to Bible days. When the children of Israel were walking in the wilderness just after they were delivered from the bondage of the Egyptians they engaged in this very act of pass the buck. When they ran out of water, and when they realized the food was nearly gone, panic took over and who got the blame? Moses and Aaron! They said you guys got us into this mess! Look at Exodus 16:2  "The whole Israelite community complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness." They made scapegoats of their leaders, the very leaders who had risked everything to bring them out of bondage and slavery. While God mercifully overlooked their lack of faith and unfair criticism of His servants in these two incidents, when the Israelites later committed the same sin, He judged them severely (Numbers 16).

Are we not aware that when we blame others for our problems we are hurting innocent people by pointing accusing fingers at them. Don’t we realize we are really pointing fingers at ourselves as well. We never acknowledge our personal failures by blaming others and that in turn robs us of the opportunity to repent and learn from our mistakes as well as seek help for what we are going through. What happens in this scenario of blaming others for our mistakes is, we do nothing less than condemn ourselves to repeating our mistakes.

Being able to see things clearly helps us to understand that no one stands out more in the sight of God and their fellowman than the person who acknowledges their own faults and mistakes, is able to ask for forgiveness and is able to ask for help so they won’t repeat their errors again. Anyone striving for spiritual perfection never arrived there by pointing a finger at someone else. Repentance is a personal responsibility and acceptance for it even in the event of small errors in judgment will make all of heaven and the hosts of heaven rejoice with us on our behalf.

I would suggest, If you are going to point a finger, make sure it is at yourself.