Instrument of Discouragement: Shifting Blame

Instrument of Discouragement: Shifting Blame

Stop looking for who to blame for your circumstances. When things are working, every man commends himself and takes the glory. But when the tide changes, he looks around for the scapegoat to carry all the blame.

The Israelites left Egypt with much joy. Many of them must have probably praised Moses and Aaron. They must have rejoiced over the precious jewels they got from the Egyptians through God favour. But hear them in Exodus 14:10-12:
And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.
Here they were, the Red Sea in front of them and the savage Egyptian army advancing from the rear, with hostile vegetation by the sides. In the face of apparent death, they preferred their servitude; they could not remember all that the hand of the Lord had wrought for them in Egypt!

They threw God’s promises to the winds and despised His faithfulness. They blamed the apparent danger on Moses, whom they had hitherto hailed!
If you don’t want your courage to wane, don’t shift blame. King David knew this secret.
And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag (his headquarters) on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;

And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away...
Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him...but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

1 Samuel 30:1-6
David was caught in a frustrating web, but he encouraged himself. How did he do it? He refused to shift blame. Rather, he inquired of the Lord and the Lord told him to pursue the enemy, with the assurance that he would recover all. David responded and at the end of the day he was the wiser. He recovered all!

Stop shifting blame. Instead of apportioning the blame on anyone, seek for how to claim what you have lost. Stop blaming your spouse, parents or neighbours. No one is the reason for your present circumstances. Do not be caught in the delusion that other people are busy scheming to destroy you. Every one is busy about his own challenges. Lift up your head, encourage yourself and move on.

The truth is that nothing can stand on your way if your courage is well fed. Shifting the blame will rob you of your courage, so don't do it. Mike Murdock said, “Those who caused yesterday’s pains do not have power over tomorrow’s potentials.”

Even if somebody was instrumental in putting you on the floor, do not remain there! Victory is waiting for you. What you have been robbed of is the best the robbers can get from you now, but that is not the best you are capable of producing.