Isaiah chapter nine is another very bleak chapter, for the most, although the beginning bit is positive. There is a prophecy that seems to be of the Messiah, although the SAB disputes this because (I guess?) in the New Testament, Jesus is never known by any of the names in verse six. I wonder who else it could be, though, as there are parts that seem they couldn't fit anyone else. A child born who is known as "The mighty God"? (I checked the Hebrew, and there's no ambiguity.) And he sits "upon the throne of David...henceforth even for ever"? That's Jesus. I assume these names (which modern-day Christians use for Jesus) are going to be used in later times, perhaps particularly the "end times". I addressed what Jesus's name is in John chapter one.
Now on to the bleak part. Isaiah speaks once again of a day when Judah will be attacked, and bad times will follow. God won't even show mercy to the most vulnerable of society, because apparently everyone is evil. "[N]o man shall spare his brother" probably doesn't mean literally people are attacking their near family, but rather Jews are attacking Jews. On the other hand "they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm" may actually be a euphemism for people eating their own children, which is arguably worse. Much of this is marked by the SAB with cruelty, injustice, and intolerance, and it's arguably so, but once again, this is a nation that turned its back on God and did evil things, and this is just the consequences.
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Just a few posts ago, you claimed that God is never cruel - well, maybe a little bit sometimes, but not really cruel. Do you still feel that way after reading verses 19-20?
God will force people to eat their right hand, then their left, and then their whole arm. It's hard to imagine anything more cruel than that. (Except maybe your idea that God is going to force parents to eat their children.)
I really feel that the people of Judah are suffering the natural consequences of their sin. Eventually, God is going to save them, but they go through some incredibly hard times for a season.
Eventually God is going to save them?
But not until after they eat their right hand, then their left, and then their whole arm. It doesn't seem like there'll be much to save.
And yeah, eating your hands and arms would be hard times. Even if it was only "for a season".
Yeah, it probably won't be the people eating arms that get saved, but their children who survive the famine. These children will see firsthand the effects of sinful living and turn back to God and doing what is morally right.
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