The Epic Fails Of 5 Prominent Bible Characters

When we make mistakes we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves.  Some mistakes can be avoided by being careful as we are never fully emotionally prepared to face the consequences following bad decisions. The consequences of our actions or our inaction can lead to pain, loss and brokenness or even death. Despite all of that we need to be able to forgive ourselves.

3 Reasons for making bad decisions
These provides a false sense of security, and more often than not leads to failure.

Direct defiance
When we know the rules but make a conscious decision to disobey.

Making uneducated guesses
Taking a gamble with the risk of losing. Big losses can lead to emotional distress. Knowledge can save lives.

Justifying
This happens when we lie to ourselves embracing ‘denial ‘rather than ‘wisdom’ to keep doing what makes us feel good. ‘Fun now, pay later’ often comes with a bigger price than we are willing to pay.

5 prominent bible characters had their own epic fails.
These guys all made their own share of mistakes with consequences.

Adam
The first man whom God had entrusted the Garden of Eden. Sinned against God by direct disobedience and failed to take responsibility. When their eyes were opened shame took hold, causing them to hide from God. As a consequence to their sin and unrepentance came the fall of man.  Genesis 3:12

David
Loved God, yet he murdered a man to gain his beautiful wife. His attempted to conceal his adultery with murder resulted in the death of his firstborn son. He couldn’t hide it from God.  2 Sam 11 and 12:1-25

Samson
A physically strong man whose weak choice for a beautiful but untrustworthy wife lead to his capture, bondage and the loss of his power and sight. He committed suicide as he brought down a building he was chained to, killing his oppressors. Judges 16

Aaron
While Moses was spending time with God up in the mountains, Aaron who had seen God defeat Pharaoh formed an idol made of Gold and the people bowed down to it.  When Moses came back down from the mountain he was angry and asked God to forgive them. The people were struck with a plague.  Exodus 32

Saul
As the first powerful king of Israel who did not fully do what God instructed him to do. As a result he was rejected as king and lost his anointing.  1 Samuel 15: 23

The prophets – they struggled with sin, their own ungodliness, they spoke of God and for God with authority, yet they experienced depression, broken families and had unfaithful spouses to deal with.

We need to stop being hard on ourselves as we are a work in progress.

Failures aren’t meant to define us as we are all imperfect in this fallen world.  Yet our very own ‘epic fails’ serve to teach us if we are willing to learn. We can move forward through repentance, self-acceptance, self-forgiveness and the willingness to leave our failures behind while living in the present, and by learning from our mistakes. We can ‘Bounce Back From Our Mistakes’  God’s grace and forgiveness is for everyone, no matter what we’ve done in our past if we are truly repentant.

When we become distressed at the weight of our burdens or when we feel that our situation seems hopeless we can say a prayer and follow through with the support of a counsellor, pastor or our family doctor.

Sandra Ciminelli
Cred. Dip. Couns. (Christian)

Sources: Bible Hub.com