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History of Irresponsibility: Biblical Examples

This is the first post in a series on responsibility.

Men were designed, created, and commanded to bear responsibility. So what happened?

It all started with our first parents. They were given responsibility and commensurate authority. This assignment was removed and then reduced after they failed their first responsibility.

Adam was given responsibility. He not only failed the responsibility; he blamed his wife and God for his failure (Genesis 3:12). Adam was not a responsible husband.

Noah got drunk and lay naked in his tent. His youngest son saw him and told his older brothers. When Noah awoke from his drunkenness, he cursed his youngest son’s youngest son. Getting drunk and cursing someone not responsible was not being a responsible father or grandfather (Genesis 9:20-27).

To save his own life, Abram had his wife lie for him and let the king of Egypt take her. He was not a responsible husband (Genesis 12:12-16). He did it again with Abimelech (Genesis: 20:2). Abram listened to his wife and had a son with Hagar. This brought persecution upon her and the son by Abram’s wife. He was not a responsible husband or father (Genesis 16). There are repercussions from his actions today, some 4,000 years later.

Each of these men was saved by faith (Hebrews 11). We can continue this list of irresponsible men: Lot, Isaac, Jacob, Reuben, Levi, Simeon, Judah, Moses, Aaron, Samson, Gideon, Eli, Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Jehosaphat, Joash, Hezekiah, Josiah, etc. These were the good guys. They were irresponsible in their relations to women, their wives, and their children.

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