The Potter and the Clay

This lesson examines the occasion upon which God gave Jeremiah instructions to go to the potter’s house.  The reason for the field trip? God intended to use this visual aid to reveal a very specific message to Jeremiah.   The imagery of a potter laboring over his project on the potter’s wheel would provide an illustration of God’s laborious work in shaping Israel.

The frequency of God’s work being illustrated by a potter is evidence that it a significant analogy.   Our text in Jeremiah 18:1-4 reveals three characteristics of God the potter:

1)  He is a SETTLED potter – God is accessible and we know where to find His at all times.

2) He is a SEEING potter – His attention is not diverted from His work on the wheel even as Jeremiah arrives.

3) He is a SHAPING potter – God does all that is needful to shape us as clay into what He envisions as our purpose.

The work of a potter, however, is intricately tied to the substance upon which he labors – clay.  While in context that clay represents a stubborn and disobedient Israel, the application applies to all who have accepted the invitation to be worked and shaped by God’s personal touch.  So, this text also offers some insight into the characteristics of the clay with which God works.   As clay we are:

1) SPINNING clay –  the process of being on the potter’s wheel often causes the obedient to feel as thought their lives are spinning out of  control.

2) SPOILED clay –  clay is from the ground (just as humanity) and is always filled with unyielding imperfections. 

3) SAVED clay – God does not discard the clay because of encountered resistance.  He removes the problem and proceeds to reshape the clay into the project of His choosing.

The significance of the visual picture of Potter-God and myself as His clay is brought to a pinnacle by considering a couple of questions:  Am I submitting to the settled Potter’s shaping in accord with what He sees?  When life is spinning, and I realize I am nothing but spoiled clay, do I soften myself to the Savior’s saving reshaping; or grow obstinately hard?