Isaiah 45:1-14
Saturday, 25 September 2021
“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?” -Isaiah 45:9 [NLT]
GOD as the Potter and we His creation as clay- portrayed in the Scripture vividly captures our attention. As we examine today’s reading, may the Spirit of God enliven our understanding to a few truths we can learn from it.
Part of the portion is God’s message to Cyrus the Persian King who God chose to bring forth His plans on His chosen, the nation of Israel. We get a glimpse of who God is, through what He speaks:
I am the Lord, there is no other (v5)
I create light and make darkness(v7)
I send good times and bad times(v7)
I, the LORD, created them (salvation &righteousness) V8
The Holy One of Israel and your Creator(v11)
I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it(v12)
I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose(V13)
All of this reveals the Omnipotence of God- He is all powerful! He is the Creator of the ends of the earth! He is sovereign! He makes nations/kings to rise and fall! This would bring both awe and comfort if we really understand who He is!
The key verse brings our focus to God as the Potter. It speaks so powerfully that the Potter has every right to do what He wills, with the clay. Jeremiah 18: 4 also conveys the same idea: “And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.” And in V.6 God spoke thus: “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!” The Potter has every right to create and re-create!
When we look at ourselves as clay in the Potter’s hand, we need to perceive that
We are created in His image (Gen.1:27)- Many people look down on themselves- their physical appearances, their disabilities and often feel discouraged. But remember we have been created in the image of God! Physical appearances, race, caste or colour can never undermine the value God places on each of us!
We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)- The complexities we find in a human body or mind point to the intelligent Creator who knit us together in our mother’s womb (Ps.139:13). We could never own ourselves or do what we want with our lives! God has put His stamp of ownership on each of His creation. We cannot juggle with our lives as a circus man does – remember we are accountable to our Creator! “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” (Rom.14:12)
In Him we live, move and have our being (Acts 17:28)- How connected we are to our Creator! Our life comes from Him! Job 33:4: "The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” We have no right to take our life as it rightly belongs to the One who gave it!
God the Potter moulds and makes us as He wills (Isa.45:9)- The process of the pot on the wheel is not easy-going – it has its highs and lows! Until the Potter has done His work in moulding the vessel as He deems fit, there is no place for complaint!
Life’s challenges, painful experiences, tough situations that God allows in a child of God are part of the moulding process- the Potter never once takes His eyes off the vessel- until He sees the image of His Son carved on each of us (Romans 8:29).
Dear friend, would you allow God the Potter to have complete sway over you- the clay pot? “HE is still working on me(you) to make me what I (you)ought to be!” (Listen to the song- link)
THINK ON: “But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)
Listen: 'He's still working on me'