Evil men cause other men to suffer - Acts 11-12

We seldom think about it, but the actions of evil leaders does carnage to others, even if they appear to be innocent.   In the story of Peter being set free from prison by an angel there is collateral damage inflicted on the prison guards.   Because King Herod failed to recognize any power but his own, he ordered the guards who where chained to Peter executed.   When you think about, to the naive this seems quite cruel of God to allow this to happen.  These men, in most eyes, were innocent.   They were ordered to chain themselves to Peter and then, unknown to them, an angel appears and releases him.   Imagine their thoughts when they came to and discovered Peter was gone.  They knew this would mean certain death.     They could explain to King Herod all they wanted about the providence of God and the intervention of an angel, but he would never listen.  He was so obsessed with his own power and drunk with his own ego that they would suffer a quick execution at his orders.   Ungodly men in power will cost others their lives.   These men were not innocent, of course.  Like all of us, they were born in sin and deserved death.  We all do.   But, had Herod sought God and sought the meaning in all of this these men would have been able to return to their families.   Make no mistake, the suffering in this world is due to the failure of man to submit to God.   Sin brings suffering.   These men suffered at the hands of an evil king, who refused to submit to God's rule.