Who is to blame?

If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. — Genesis 43:9

Judah was willing to assume the responsibility for bringing his brother Benjamin back from Egypt (Gen. 43:9). If anything happened to him, Judah would take the blame. This is one of the rarest traits in human nature, for we usually seek to put the blame on someone else.

One evening there was a collision on the road in front of my house, I went out and found a lively argument about who was at fault. One driver yelled, “You were on the wrong side and going too fast!” The other person replied, “No, you are to blame. You failed to signal your turn, and you had your bright lights on!” After 30 minutes the police came and the argument was repeated.

One of the hardest things to learn is to take the blame, to say, “I was wrong.” Why is this, anyway? It is not always deliberate dishonesty. The real reason is simply that we look at it only from our own perspective. If we could calmly look at it from the other person’s point of view, it might appear entirely different.

There are two sides to everything. You can never see both sides until you stop accusing and humbly listen to the other person instead. To solve a conflict, you need to be willing to take the blame.                                       — M. R. De Haan, MD

Thinking It Over

Why is it so hard to see another person’s point of view?

When is it appropriate to share the blame?

What can I do if the other person won’t admit any guilt?

READ: Genesis 43:1-10

To be right, be willing to admit you are wrong.

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Chronicles 17-19