The Potter’s Hand

Today’s Throuh the Bible Reading: Jeremiah 14; 18-19:13; Jeremiah 24

“Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.” Jeremiah 18:2 NIV

Do you remember going on a field trip as a school kid? Those were great! Today God sends Jeremiah on a fieldtrip of sorts as He instructs him to go to the potter’s house where he would be schooled in how God molds us into His image.

“…O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?...Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand…” Jeremiah 18:5-6

Clay pictures you and me whereas the potter pictures the Lord – our Master Potter (Isa. 64:8). Clay is nothing but squishy, sticky mud. It’s earthy and it’s dirty – and in that way, it’s a great example of us in our human nature (Gen. 2:7; Ps. 103:14). There’s nothing special about clay until the potter picks it up and begins to work with it. And that’s exactly what God does with us. We are His workmanship (Eph. 2:10). Like the clay on the wheel, we may feel dizzy, pressed, and wet but all the while our Master Potter is molding us into His image He desires us to be. And sometimes, when the Potter senses there’s an imperfection, He has to take that lump of clay off the wheel, mash it all together, and start the spinning process all over – sound familiar? All the while He’s consistently adding water to His work to keep it usable and workable and pliable. And then, just when you think you’re exactly how He wants you to be and you look in the Potter’s face and see a smile indicating the shape is complete, a furnace full of fire is opened and you’re set inside. No doubt this analogy hits home for all of us!

As you experience the Potter’s wheel, remember – you’re in the Potter’s hands. You might feel finished as you’re placed in that fiery trial but the Potter knows it’s the heat that makes the shape endurable (Rom. 5:3-5; 1 Peter 4:12, 13). So always remember my friend, He is the Potter, we are the clay so let Him mold you exactly as He sees fit today.