The Potter and The Clay (Jeremiah 18)
The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” 3 So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel. 4 But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over (Jeremiah 18:1–4).
There are three factors that determine the outcome of the potter’s work. The potter, the potter’s wheel, and the clay.
The man was skilful with the right equipment, yet he could not produce his desired vessel, then attention should shift to the clay as the determinant of his output. Is the clay of the right type and quality? No matter how hard the potter tried, if the clay does not meet the desired vessel’s specifications, the output will be will always be flawed as the clay is not ready to be made into the potter’s desired vessel, after several trials he finally made a vessel according to the clay’s quality.
It is clear from Jeremiah 18:5 that God is the Potter, the potter’s wheel is God’s instrument of workmanship, and you are the living clay in the hand of God the Potter. You decide what you will turn out to be in the hand of God and it is your responsibility to prepare yourself (clay) for the master to make you as originally intended. 2Timothy 2:20–21 made this clear.
5 Then the Lord gave me this message: 6 “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. (Jeremiah 18:5).
in a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honourable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work (2 timothy 2:20–21).
Prepared or not, God will mould you into something, honourable or dishonourable vessel, desired vessel or vessel of his wrath. It all depends on you, the clay.
This is illustrated in the message of the Lord to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:7–10)
7 If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, 8 but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. 9 And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, 10 but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.
If God has decided to make a nation (clay) into a vessel of His wrath and planned for destruction. And that nation (clay) changed from its evil ways (cleansed itself and prepared itself into the appropriate clay for beautiful vessel of honour), then God will crumble the vessel of wrath he was making and mould the nation into a beautiful vessel of honour. But if the clay destined for a beautiful vessel, acquires impurities that alters its type, texture and plasticity, then the potter will change his plan and make a vessel for the current quality of the clay (dishonourable use and planned for destruction).
Jesus came to help your preparation to fit the Father’s specifications required to mould you into His desired vessel. Are you cooperating with Holy Spirit to prepare you for the Father’s moulding and use or are you making the Potter’s decision easy or difficult due to your non-cooperative nature? I encourage you to cooperate with the Holy Spirit for your preparation to be made into a vessel of honour.
