5 Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, and as he was speaking unto them, behold there arose an Amalekite and began to contend with him, saying: What is that thou hast testified? Hast thou seen an angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold are not this people as good as thy people?
And what have we here? An Amalekite who contends with the spirit of the devil, which is the spirit of contention and has been from the time Lucifer contended with God and Christ in heaven and will be forever and ever.
And what makes this man so angry? The same thing that makes Satan and his followers angry. Envy. This is what I believe was in the man’s heart. “What?! No way! You can’t have an angel appear to you if he never appeared to me and my people! We are better than you! It’s not possible!”
I think that may have been one of the things at the root of Joseph’s persecution that came from his claim to have seen an angel. What?! I never had an angel appear to me! You can’t be more special than I am. You can’t have something that I don’t. Envy.
Envy is likely at the root of all of it. As it was likely at the root of Lucifer’s fall. He was envious that Father chose Jesus and rejected him and his plan. And in a fit of jealous rage, created war in heaven. And, not being satisfied with his personal loss, had to drag as many as would follow him over the cliff with him for miserable company. One cannot be miserable and stand being in the presence of those who are happy.
Comments