Why have the Jews suffered so much?

Les explains that after 2000 years of God dealing patiently with the early people, God chose one man in whom He could find a particle of faith, one who would be obedient, and made him a whole group of promises and covenants. Out of him God would bring a special race of people different than all other nations, and He would work a plan of salvation through that race. Les says that as soon as God revealed even the embryonic part of that plan of redemption, the devil kicked into high gear. That is the basic reason the Jews have suffered so much: just as soon as God revealed that this special nation would bring about the plan of redemption, the devil turned everything loose on them. The context also notes God had offered restoration and reconciliation if they would do what He asked, bring a blood sacrifice, and He would accept them, as typified by Abel being accepted because he did what God told him, while Cain rejected it and rationalized his own way.