The Potter and the Clay

And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

Several years ago my wife and I visited a local university campus during their art festival. We had the privilege of slipping behind the curtain and watching a potter at work. She was quite skilled in the art—a pleasure to watch. She was finishing the top part of a vase. As the wheel was spinning, her fingers and thumbs were smoothing, shaping, pulling, pushing. She never looked up at those who were watching her.

While finishing the process, a part of the top of the vase displeased her. It looked fine to me, but not to her. In the simplest of ways, she reached over and, with a little instrument, peeled off that part and remade it. Still, it wasn’t the way she wanted it. Again, it looked excellent to me, but it wasn’t what she liked. I was tempted to say, “That looks fine. Leave it alone!” But I’m glad I didn’t. She remade it yet again . . . and it was more beautiful than ever.

As she pulled out the clay ever so slightly, what finally resulted was this delicate flare at the top of the vase. She gave a slight nod, as if to say, “There, that’s what I wanted it to look like.” Then she left it alone. Finally, she looked at us and smiled as we quietly applauded.

When we observed her artistry, we were impressed with the care she had demonstrated. No detail was unimportant. The clay had to be just right.

That’s what Jeremiah witnessed as he saw the potter at work. Then the Lord drew an analogy for His prophet.

Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Can I not, O house of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:5–6 NASB 1995)

You see change written there without even finding the word.

“You’re like a lump of clay to me, Israel. And I can shape you and hollow you out and thin your walls and flare the top. I can make you decorative, or I can reshape you and start all over again, because change is My specialty. And you are the object of My attention and affection!”