Why do people make excuses for their wrong actions?

Exodus 4:10Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.”

Numbers 13:31The other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!”

Judges 6:15“But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!”

Lack of self-confidence, which might also reveal a lack of confidence in God, is often a reason for resisting what God wants us to do. Fear creates many excuses.

Genesis 4:9Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”

Excuses are often an attempt to cover up for the wrong we have done.

1 Samuel 13:11-12Saul replied . . . “So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”

1 Samuel 15:15“It’s true that the army spared the best of the sheep, goats, and cattle,” Saul admitted. “But they are going to sacrifice them to the Lord your God. We have destroyed everything else.”

We can make excuses under a religious guise to make us look good.

Proverbs 22:13The lazy person claims, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!”

Laziness is at the root of some excuses.

Luke 9:59-61He [Jesus] said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.” . . . Another said, “Yes, Lord, I will follow you, but first let me say good-bye to my family.”

Excuses are often used to cover up a lack of commitment.