After retiring in Kentucky, my uncle took up pottery lessons. Over the year, our family began to acquire a collection of iridescent and cobalt blue bowls and flower pots as he experimented like a mad scientist. He loved working with clay for the same reasons most people do. It’s wet. It’s messy. There’s a form of childlike play to it. You can mold and shape it to make something beautiful in the end. The outcome of the clay is at the mercy of your hands. The same is true of us and our Maker.
In the beginning of Jeremiah 18, God says to the prophet: “Go down at once to the potter’s house; there I will reveal my words to you” (v.2). He sends Jeremiah to this house because by observing the potter’s wheel and clay, Jeremiah is given a powerful visual aid. Just like clay in a potter’s hand, the house of Israel is held in its Maker’s hands (v.6). The Israelite people aren’t as independent as they think. They are stubborn and make poor decisions. They abandon their commitment to God and defile the land with idolatry, making it a “horror” (v.16). They don’t realize how fragile they are and what they are risking in order to live according to what they think is right.
In Jeremiah 19, God tells Jeremiah to give a sign act to the people of Judah, which is exactly what it sounds like: a physical act that serves as a sign. He instructs Jeremiah to buy a potter’s clay jar, proclaim God’s judgment against Judah, and says, “Then you are to shatter the jar in the presence of the people going with you” (Jeremiah 19:10). The sign was meant to represent His intentions toward unrepentant Judah.
God takes great care to speak in ways we can understand. He’ll use everything from visual aids to metaphors to get our attention; even the world around us reveals His character. As we read through Jeremiah’s prophecies, may we trust that God knows what is best for us, and look for where He may be trying to reveal His truth to us.
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57 thoughts on "Parable of the Potter"
In Him we live and move and have our being. What do we have, what can we do, what can we be without Him? This scripture in Acts speaks to my heart and makes me know it’s all God.
When I look back over my life I can see the many times God tried to get my attention and warn me of coming trouble or to correct my wandering off the path He had planned for me. He has placed a number of Jeremiah’s in my life that I am so grateful for. And when God uses them to speak truth to me I know if I don’t pay attention I will regret it later. Thank you Father God for loving me so much You won’t leave me where I am. Thank you for continued shaping and molding that makes me more like Jesus.
I want to be a “ vessel made for honorable use “. I pray for discernment as next steps to take in life . I am interested in pursuing a second career this year , but I’m not sure the timing is right since my son is only two ( and studying with a two year old to try and CLEP out of math has been revealing!) . In life , I tend to force things to happen in effort to feel valuable , and I won’t want this to be another decision made in that same grassy, striving posture that is looking for the “next fix” to feel worthy. But, this is also something I’ve pondered and felt led to a decade in the making . Lord, Please show me clearly the use You intend for this vessel at this point in time . It’s hard for me to know what is fear holding me back versus You providing warning to keep our paths straight . Amen.
I meant to say grasping , not grassy !
“They don’t realize how fragile they are…” this statement really hit me. I think I’m so strong on my own. I think I have everything under control and forget the One who is really in Control. Today’s lesson made me realize that my Maker knows me better than I know myself and if I lean into him he will shape me into the woman he wants me to be.
I am thinking of the blessedness of parenting this morning and the potters wheel.
God the Master Potter, allows the speed with which the wheel rotates. His hands are the safe walls that bend and form the clay.
As parents, God entrusts a small amount of clay into our hands for short time. The wheel begins to turn and we try to guide, shape, and structure, like He does and did, through soft and light pressure. His hand over ours. For He loves the precious clay He has given us even more than we do. He doesn’t need my hands…they are more of a hindrance than a help, and yet He holds them. He guides them. He bends my fingers. I know His love, and it penetrates through my hands and into the precious clay He has given. My hand upon the clay becomes lighter and lighter as the vessel nears completion. I am changed. The vessel is changed. Yielded, formed by His touch, both useful and beautiful.
Thank you God.
Beautiful! I only wish I’d known & trusted the Lord when more of my children were little.
This is so beautiful Angie, thank you so much for sharing it.
Love this truth!
Beautiful imagery! Will try to remember
Beautiful imagery! Need to remember this daily in my parenting. Thank you, Angie.
I love this picture. And as a church leader’s wife, I can’t help but think this same concept applies to us, as well.
Thank you for this visual and reminder of our children being like clay.
What a powerful reading! The fact that God makes us and molds us the way He wants is so comforting. I don’t have to be anything except what God has made me to be, and I can find peace in that. When I am not partaking in things the world is partaking in, I can fix my eyes on Jesus and let Him be my guide.
When I read Bailey ‘s writing, “The outcome of the clay is at the mercy of your hands. The same is true of us and our Maker.” it made me realize how I need to let my Maker have more control over my life. I need to let Him guide me, show me the way, the outcome He has planned, my calling so to say. In other words, I need to let God have the reins. As the saying I have many times goes, I need to “Let God and let go.” Lord help me to let You be my Guide, my Light, my Way. Help to remember to let You have reins when it comes to my life. Remind me that You have been with through the good and the not-so-good. And as You know I’ve had some hard not-so-goods in my life. Thank you Lord for “always having my back.” Amen.
❤️
I’m reminded of the message my pastor just taught. In the book of Daniel, they were trying to trap Daniel by having the king set a decree that all could only pray or bow to him. He was talking about the people praying to a king that didn’t have power. The king actually liked Daniel, and didn’t want him thrown in the lions’ den. In fact, he didn’t eat and had trouble sleeping or maybe the Scripture said that he couldn’t sleep at all while Daniel was in the den. He rushed there at the crack of dawn to see if Daniel was alive. He was! The king wanted to change the edict, but couldn’t, even though he was king. We have a King that is Sovereign, and nothing is too hard for Him. He talked about the term plus one on invitations. My pastor said God is always our plus One! Daniel entered the den with his plus One! Just like God didn’t abandon Daniel, He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is always there! We may stray, but God is faithful. The lions’ roar would be scary, but at the name of Jesus, demons shudder. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. May we not serve worthless, powerless idols. May I/ we be convicted, and repent and serve the One True God! Also, I’m thinking of the scripture that talks about two paths. One leads to life and one to death. May we choose life by the guidance of the Holy Spirit and draw others to Him in Jesus’ Mighty Name Amen!
Plus one. What a great reminder of God always with us. Thank you for sharing that, Kristen.
Love thinking that God is my plus one
Love the “Plus one” image!
Well said. Thank you Lord for always being my Plus One! Amen!