"It is much worse to have one foe in the camp than to have a host of foes out-side, for who can tell what harm he may do who comes in the guise of a friend?"
- Chapter XII; Foes in the Camp; The Life of George Washington by Josephine Pollard.
Benedict Arnold, a seaman in his youth, had fought well for the cause of the American Revolution. He grew proud and vain and wanted to get the same praise and renown as George Washington, with whom he was highly critical. The hope to gain great amounts of money also fueled his treachery. Washington thought highly of Arnold and couldn't have conceived in his mind he was full of hateful deceit.
The shortcut to the end of this story is that Washington entrusts Arnold with a major commanding position and many troops under his direction. Meanwhile, Arnold enlists the help of John Andre, a man of high rank and great wealth in England to help him betray and sabotage the cause of the Americans at war. Andre travels to America to assist Arnold. Ultimately a plan to cause a major post at West Point to surrender to the English is planned and attempted. Arnold would be the hero of England and could have power and influence in the Royal colonies. He could be great in the eyes of many just like the Commander in Chief, George Washington. Not only that, he could cause the Americans to lose the war and send Washington to the grave.
1) George Washington was a very smart man. Washington could not discern the two-facedness of Arnold. In fact, Washington had a multitude of examples that reinforced his trust and faith in Arnold. DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE BEEN VICTIM to the deceitful nature of someone who aimed to hurt you that you trusted. Sometimes this simply cannot be prevented.
This saga ends with Arnold's wicked plans being discovered. He escapes to England and is shunned by all in America. Andre is caught and hung. Arnold was exiled and shamed. Those in the colonies who got to know Andre before his execution had grown fond of him and pained about his fate. Even George Washington held this sentiment, though he hid it. There were many tears at his hanging. It seems Arnold got off easy, but it is clear he got the opposite of what his evil desire wickedly lusted for. He returned to England a failure and hated by the Americans and the English alike, who blamed him for the death of their hero, Andre. No glory, no praise.
2) JEALOUSY IS DEMONIC and should never be taken as a minor fault or hang-up (see James 3:16)
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. James 4:1-3
The story of Cain killing Abel is in Genesis 4. Cain was jealous and resentful of Abel because God had looked favorably at Abel's offering, but not Cain's. God encouraged Cain that his offering could be just as favorable if he would just choose well. God also warned Cain about the sin that was creeping up on him and encouraged him to have mastery over it. Essentially he told him, "You can control this! Choose the right!"
One consideration is that jealousy hurts a person by stealing their joy and ability to be grateful for what they have. It puts the focus on your perceived lack and resenting what someone else has that you choose to feel entitled to or feel you desperately need. It turns our faith from God who cares for us and whom we are to trust as the loving provider he is, to ourselves. Or we could scheme to get what we need from people through manipulative or nefarious means. Or we could just feel down and depressed by the comparison of someone we are jealous of. But a more serious consideration is that jealousy leaves you vulnerable to demonic influence, essentially tapping into a storehouse of evil inspiration and motivation. One may look in the mirror one day to find a monster staring back; A monster who says, "I am capable of great evil" either because of what they've done or conspired to do. The plotting to kill, steal and destroy another can all be bred from the dreadful sin of jealousy.
Dear Friends, HAVE MASTERY OVER THIS. DO NOT FALL PREY TO IT! Nothing anyone has is worth your own inner misery and suffering as you long for it. And nothing you can take is worth the discipline or punishment of God you risk inheriting for the terrible sins jealousy can inspire.
3) Moving forward after betrayal
Everyone will have days of infamy in their life that they associate with major painful events. In regards to betrayal, it may be the day a spouse surprised you with "I want a divorce" or "I've moved on to someone else". It may be the day you discovered someone you loved was living a double life; A 'Jekyll and Hyde kind of double life' or just spreading false rumors about you. It may be someone's false testimony that got you in trouble for something you didn't do, or an employee or family member that embezzled money from you. All of the 'could be's' still have the same risk in how they can affect your life. Two choices: this can make you bitter, or make you better.
We cannot take back the hurts done to us. We can't erase the pain of betrayal. But we can leave it with God over and over and over and focus on not becoming bitter towards someone. If someone hurt you, do the opposite and care for yourself, love yourself. Do the opposite of the hate you experienced, and love someone in your life with greater intention and care. Smile and thank God you're alive and ask God for help with any negative feelings you struggle with. And keep asking God for help anytime you start to play a judgmental monolog in your head about that person. Interrupt the thoughts, with declarations of blessing and asking for God's will to be done in their life and yours. Pray for your "enemies" or anyone that hurt you. It helps! Declare your trust that God will sort it out in his perfect timing and way. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." (Romans 12:19)
4) Hope for the Victim and the Victimizer. We all need the forgiveness found in Christ. We all need God's grace.
We cannot escape the eye of God, but we can fall into his arms no matter what we've done. God asks us to 'repent and sin no more'. Repentance means we are turning from something that offends God, that he forbids. It is a choice of stopping something 'bad' but signifies a change in heart that is motivating it. When we have a change in heart we want to do what we can to right our wrongs that held us feeling guilty and condemned. This doesn't mean we escape the consequences of our wrongs but that we have the chance to take the first step to deal with it. It's the difference between turning ourselves in for a warrant or getting apprehended by surprise and hauled to jail. If you turn yourself in, you are able to get your affairs in order beforehand and not be caught off guard. You are also more likely to get favorable treatment from a judge rather than being forcibly arrested while you were still evading your criminal charges. In the courts of God, I'd like to think God's hand of discipline falls differently, most certainly lighter, when we repent in our own free will.
A beautiful illustration of repentance is found in Luke, chapter 19. This covers the story of Zacchaeus, a tax collector who had grown rich by cheating people out of money. Zacchaeus had a life changing encounter with Jesus, felt convicted and wanted to right his wrongs. He was inspired to radical generosity and gave half of all he owned to the poor AND paid back anyone he had cheated, four times the amount he took. And on his own free will! All because he experienced the kindness and fellowship Christ offered him and then he choose actions that reflected his hearts change. The cost or consequences didn't phase him because getting right with Jesus is all that mattered.
Closing thoughts: "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Don't let envy and jealousy steal from your emotional well being, mental and physical health. Find ways to combat it by replacing anxious thoughts with prayers, crying out to God for help when you face lack. Pray for your enemies. Nip evil in the bud by not allowing jealousy to take root.
A final warning from 'The Life of George Washington':
"He that breaks laws must pay the price. If you want to make friends, and to have them love and trust you - be true. Let no one coax you to sin. The eye of God is on you, and he sees all your deeds. You may hide your crime for a while, but you may "be sure your sin will find you out." Be not an Arnold nor an Andre."
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