Los Angeles is burning. The most devastating wildfire in American history rages through the heart of America’s second-largest city, reducing entire neighborhoods to ash. Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes. Ancient redwoods and modern mansions alike have crumbled into cinders.
Governor Gavin Newsom won’t take responsibility. At press conferences, he blames climate change, utility companies, and federal forest management policies. He rattles off statistics about drought conditions and wind patterns. When pressed about the state’s failure to conduct prescribed burns that might have prevented this catastrophe, he points to decade-old policies. Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley follows his lead. Despite her department’s delayed response times and communications failures that left entire communities without warning, she blames aging infrastructure, resource limitations, and “unprecedented conditions.” Neither leader has uttered the words their constituents desperately need to hear: “I accept responsibility for these failures.”
The Bible teaches us about another leader who refused to take responsibility. The story of King Saul’s fall from grace exposes everything wrong with today’s political blame game.
God commanded Saul to wage war against the Amalekites. The order was clear ā destroy everything. Saul won the battle but spared King Agag and kept the best livestock. When confronted by the prophet Samuel, Saul’s response could have come from a modern press conference: “But I did obey the Lord… The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God” (1 Samuel 15:20-21).
Samuel cut through the excuses:
Saul kept deflecting, blaming his soldiers and insisting he had followed God’s commands. This denial cost him everything ā his kingdom, his legacy, and his relationship with God.
King David chose a different path. When confronted with his sins of adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrating her husband’s death ā far worse than Saul’s disobedience ā David didn’t dodge responsibility. The prophet Nathan said, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7). David’s response was immediate:
The Sages teach that David’s immediate confession, without excuses, showed what God demands from leaders ā the courage to face hard truths. In his psalm of repentance, David wrote:
Why did God judge Saul so harshly for a lesser sin, while forgiving David for a greater one? The answer lies in their responses. Saul’s refusal to take responsibility revealed his fatal flaw ā pride that put self-preservation above truth. David’s acceptance of blame, despite his grave sins, showed the humility required to lead.
Rashi points out that Saul’s first words ā “I have fulfilled the Lord’s command” (1 Samuel 15:13) ā exposed his core failure. He thought partial obedience was enough. When challenged, he doubled down instead of reflecting. David understood that leadership starts with owning your failures.
As Los Angeles burns and officials dodge responsibility, the Bible’s message is clear. When emergency responses fail, when evacuation orders come too late, when communities suffer, people don’t demand perfection ā they demand honesty. Leaders who deflect blame while citizens lose everything follow Saul’s path to failure. Those who take responsibility, even for painful truths, follow David’s path to redemption.
Leadership without accountability is just power. True leadership starts with three words: “I am responsible.”
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