According to encyclopedia.com, scapegoating is defined as “a powerful and destructive phenomenon wherein a person or group of people are blamed for whatever is wrong”. Scapegoating is as old as the garden of Eden. When God confronted Adam about his sin, he resorted to scapegoating. He passed the blame elsewhere. Incidentally, Eve and God were the scapegoats that Adam found. God had provided Adam with a wife to help him handle some of the burdens of maintaining the garden. Here we find Adam excusing himself of his error because it was occasioned by Eve whom God gave. Talk of God’s good deed being evil spoken of! Adam laid the foundation of what would be the typical response of the average human being when confronted with their sins and shortcomings – the urge to pass the blame to someone else.

Those who resort to scapegoating can never rise above the level of mediocrity. We learn and grow through humility, and this involves a readiness to accept our wrongs.

Though Adam tried to scapegoat, that did not absolve him of wrongdoing. He still had to bear the consequences of his error. God’s word is clear about how to deal with sin. Remission comes only by confessing and turning a new leaf. “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV). This is one aspect where David excelled. Confront him about any error, he would roll before God and accept responsibility. Soon enough, God would forgive and restore him to an intimate fellowship like before. I sometimes wonder if the course of man’s history would not have taken a slightly different way had Adam simply accepted his mistake. Those who resort to scapegoating can never rise above the level of mediocrity. We learn and grow through humility, and this involves a readiness to accept our wrongs.