Pointing Fingers

"Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity." (Isaiah 58: 9)

Sinners have been in the "finger pointing" business for a long time. It started in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve, after being discovered by God for having violated his law, began to "point the finger" at others.

Adam "pointed the finger" at BOTH Eve and God, saying "the woman (that you gave me), she gave me the fruit and I did eat." The "I did eat" came only after he had "pointed the finger" at God and Eve. He was first to blame others and only lastly was willing to mention his own deed.

Eve, she "pointed the finger" also at BOTH God and the Serpent, and perhaps even Adam too (although nothing in the text would prove it). She could just as well have "pointed the finger" at Adam and said - "What kind of husband were you not to be there to stop this?"

When God asked her about her sin, she said - "the Devil tempted me"; in other words, "he made me do it." It is also an insinuation that God is also to be blamed, for she as much as says - "You let him in here God!"

The only one we do not hear give a flimsy excuse, post facto, nor "point the finger," is the Serpent. Clearly, however, he had earlier "pointed the finger" at God when he first tempted Eve.

It is evil to "point the accusing finger" towards others as a habit. Yes, if we are witnesses to a crime, we must "point the finger" at the one we witness commit the crime. That is not what is condemned by God in the above citation, however.

Men are not quickly willing to acknowledge their own culpability and guilt in sin and crime. They are not generally voluntary confessors of their own wrongs, though they can be very quick to "point out" the faults and sins of others. Men are naturally hypocrites.

Paul gave us all a sober word of advice. He said - "If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged." (I Corinthians 11: 31)

We should be our own worst critics. We should not trust our own appraisals of ourselves. We should all look into the "mirror of the word of God" to discover our real selves. Friend, have you looked into the mirror of the word, into the face of God and Christ?

It has been said that when we point one finger at others, we have three fingers pointing back at ourselves. This is so true and a thought to always keep in the forefront of our minds.

A finger pointer is an "accuser," and it is prophesied that in the end of days that ungodly finger pointing and false accusing would characterize society. (II Tim. 3: 1-4)

Isaiah associates "speaking vanity" with "pointing the finger." That seems appropriate as false accusing is generally nothing but empty and groundless talk.

A truly humble person is not one who habitually and with joy "point the finger." Such an one does not enjoy "putting down" others, does not practice making others the "scapegoats," is not given to "fault-finding."

An old song says - "Put your hand in the hand of the man who stills the waters," and then - "Take a look at yourself and then you can look at others differently."

Friend, take a look at yourself. Are you a habitual "finger pointer"? God will not hear you nor save you till you have ceased this activity. But, you cannot cease the activity till your heart is changed. Ask the Lord to take away your hard and accusing heart and give you a humble heart before the Lord.