I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath. What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment?

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job.7.16,Job.7.17,Job.7.18&version=ESV

Stephen takes over the Book of Acts and gives a noteworthy reprise of the history of the Jews. Then he tells an unpleasant truth. Apparently it was a stoning offense.

St. Stephen, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC

  “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

Acts7:51-53 ESV Bible Gateway Link

Historical Reprise: Acts 7:2-50

This is one of the eternal conflicts in the Bible. If God loves us why is Satan going "to and fro upon the earth." Job encountered him to devastating effect. So have we all. Take courage, he's a coward and as James 4:7 advises: "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

 

And the Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Job 2:2 (ESV)

James 4:7

I find it ever amazing how often in the Holy Bible, ancient history pops up to inform events more current. This was a simple edict: Jews were allowed to defend themselves.

 

Mordecai and Queen Esther (Lilian Broca)

Esther and Mordecai were in Iran where all but a remnant of Jews had been exiled. An officer in the King’s court ordered all the Jews killed because Mordecai wouldn’t bow to him, and otherwise followed God’s law first, not the King’s. Events and Queen Esther intervene and suddenly Mordecai has power. 

 But you (Mordecai) may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked.”

Esther 8:8 (ESV) Bible Gateway link 

And he (Mordecai) wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud, saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,

Esther 8:10-11 (ESV) Bible Gateway Link

Peter and John were supernaturally released from prison. The religious officials felt threatened and wanted to kill them. But a law school professor gave the officials some advice, which I have used in my own life.

 “But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.”

Gamaliel: “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.”

Acts 5: (ESV) Bible Gateway Passage link:

This passage always makes me think of the 'God things' in my life. In the scheme of things, my own story is like a puff of breeze, but here it is regardless.

In my early 20's I was working on a story for KQED the Public TV station in San Francisco. The work brought me to the East Coast, where I was only a quick train ride away from Washington DC. I'd never been there so I got on the train. I wandered out of Union Station and saw the Capitol building. The thought occurred to me "I could live here." Thus enfolded a series of events, like a glide path, where everything fell into place for me to move from my origins on the west coast to the country's capital.  I got a job in my field at a local TV station,  and a place to live. Eventually, I found myself, I found the love of my life, and married him and I found the work of my life. Once God made it clear to me that I was finished with that work, I had the time to really study my beloved Bible and I found a deep and abiding love in God's presence, which is ever growing.

The lovely, orphaned Esther, the ward of her relative Mordecai, a Jew in exile. Her story of saving her people, starts here. It is the story of how God uses the most unlikely, fragile and unimportant people to carry out his will. Also she was responsible for cutting taxes!

 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.

Esther 2:17-18 (ESV) Bible Gateway link to passage

Communism doesn't work! The evidence is overwhelming. The reason? It goes against human nature. This is a perfect example that nothing is impossible with God.

 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

Acts 4:32-35 (ESV) link to Bible Gateway passage