Laying the blame on others

Often in Hong Kong, we hear people say, rather proudly of themselves, that problems that can be solved with money are no problems at all. This suggests that there are problems which cannot be solved with money, worse still, cannot be solved at all.
In order to stay psychologically healthy, to feel good, we lay the blame on our subordinates. They continue to pass the buck down the line until it reaches some inanimate objects. How often do computers fail to work when we do our presentation in front of an expectant audience?
Recently, Shung Tak teachers experienced the frustration of inaccessibility of our data folders for more than one whole week. Many teachers are setting Mock Exam papers!  It is all the computer's fault! In this way, we reduce a problem to one that can be solved with money, buying a new tigabyte hard disk. Then everybody is happy again. It was not successful. The duration of outage is outrageous. One whole week! We need to put the blame on people, on other people. It is their fault. The technician has not done the maintenance well. They sabotage us. It is not my/our faults.
Some people are even worse. They love to play this 'Not Me' game. After enjoying the advantages which they are not entitled to, they point their fingers at others and blow the whistles. By the time the truth is established, they have already gone for good.
After disobeying the command of God, Adam hid himself away.
We know that running away from a problem does not solve it. Still, we run away, dreaming that the problem will disappear in the future. Doesn't time heal? Not many of us are courageous enough to experience more failures. Seldom do we tackle our problems head-on.
The first instinct of sinners is to hide or to deny. But where can we hide from our God?
When God called Adam, He should have already known the situation. It is always God who takes the initiative to seek while we hide. What a hide-and-seek game! In the gospel, Jesus mixed with tax-collectors and sinners, making the self-righteous Pharisees raise their eyebrows.
But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3:9)
Adam had to face the reality. We all have to, sooner or later.
And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself." (Genesis 3:10)
This was a factual statement. There was no exaggeration.
He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?" (Genesis 3:11)
Unfortunately, texts do not carry the tone. Did God utter the above questions kindly? Firmly? Forcefully? Furiously? Note that God did not say "Who told you that you were naked? You must have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat!" God gave Adam a chance to explain himself.
Very often we jump to conclusion too soon, without giving the other party enough time to explain themselves!
Though he had gained some knowledge of good and evil, Adam the first man was still very childish when God gave him a chance to explain himself. As if by instinct, he put the blame on the woman. But much more than that. He put the blame on God as well! Why did you make me such a trouble-causing woman?
Many times, my Symphorian makes similar remarks like this. We are truly descendants of Adam.
The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate." (Genesis 3:12)
Adam blamed his boss! What would you call this? Courage? Naivety? Self-autonomy? Stupidity?
What about Eve? She passed the buck to the Serpent, neither blaming the man nor God. But God did not give the Serpent a chance! Conspiracy theorists would say that God was behind all these and He silenced the witness which would incriminate Him. These theoriests are also true descendants of Adam.
Why didn't Adam die the day he ate the forbidden fruit as God had warned (Genesis 2:17)? He died at the age of 930 (Genesis 5:5). Then God's word was not true. He should not be God. On the other hand, trying to explain the problem away with "the love of God" may not be acceptable by many others. So far, the only answer I find acceptable is that God lives in a different time frame. His day is not our days. Remember that the sun and the moon were created on the fourth day (Genesis 1:16). This is our day, a solar day, one complete self rotation of the earth. What about the three previous days of Creation? The time scale was totally different.
For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night (Psalm 90:4).
Adam did not live a thousand years. God's word was still true. Q.E.D.

My dear Lord, I lack faith and run away from problems. Help me Lord. Amen.