Pottery

 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.
Jeremiah 18:4 ESV

Jeremiah visited a pottery workshop and learned about God's dealing with His people. His old covenant people of Israel rebelled against Him, so they were banished into exile. Still, God graciously brought them back and sent Jesus the Messiah to them.

Through Jesus, God has formed a new people out of the ashes of the old: Jews and Gentiles alike united in worship of the Saviour of the world. Understandably, devout Jews might feel put out that they don't have a monopoly on God. Yet God as the Potter of humanity has the right to do what He likes with us.

Us questioning God's purposes is a bit like a lump of clay questioning the potter for how he's moulding it. God has a right to smash us up, grind us down, muddy us, and start all over again. We have no right to rail against Him.


Like a good lump of clay, we should humbly submit to God's purposes for our lives. By all means we can pray that God would use us for noble purposes. Yet it is His sovereign will that prevails.

'God our Potter, may we humble ourselves before Your creative sovereignty. May we be used by You for noble purposes, for the honour of Your name, amen'

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