>I would contend that even without Abdiel's shenanigans, this philosophical >difference would have eventually caused a war between Yaweh and Satan >anyway. We'll never know, of course, but I think part of the point of the story (and the poignancy of the conclusion) is that Yahweh and Satan could have settled their differences amicably if not for Abdiels "shenanigans". There's a point in the story where Satan is discussing things with Lucifer, if I remember correctly. Lucifer says something like "So, your job is to instruct and inspire, and kick people in the butt if they need it." and Satan says (paraphrase) "You make it sound better than Yahweh did. He sounded like he wanted me to be a spy and a tattletale." At this point Satan and Beelzebub resolve to talk to Yahweh about their misgivings and then things happen and the snowball starts rolling shortly thereafter. Without Abdiel's interference, Satan and Yahweh would eventually have discussed things over lunch and either sorted things out or Satan would have regretfully declined the job. Even when he disagreed with Yahweh, Satan didn't foment open rebellion. The role of leader was more or less thrust upon him as things went from bad to worse. Rather like many real-life revolutions, I imagine.