Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”? (Isaiah 29:16b)
When I was in college, a friend of mine informed me that students were allowed to visit the art department in the evening and use potting wheels and clay. I had very little prior experience “throwing clay,” as it’s called, so I suggested that we should give it a try. Little did I know, it was much harder than I expected! The hands of a master potter are truly skilled hands! When the work of art is complete, it’s safe to say that the clay itself has very little input into the final product.
Isaiah used the image of a potter and clay to remind the nation of Israel that they were created by God just as a potter creates his work. As the creation and not the creator, it is important to submit oneself to the designer. The creator knows the real purpose for his creation. According to Isaiah, true wisdom rests with the creator, and the creation’s wisest move is to submit itself to him. Rather than believing it knows what’s best, the creation needs to ask the creator what is best.
When you realize the work that goes into creating something out of clay, you also begin to realize just how intentional the potter is with his clay. Did you know that God was intentional in His creation of you? You are clay in the hands of a gracious Potter – one who desires that you would be an object of beauty. Have you submitted to His wisdom? Are you willing to cast aside your own agenda for His? Such is the way of wisdom.
Father, thank You for graciously creating me. Thank You for the privilege of being Your handiwork. As such, give me humility to submit to You, and let me seek Your wisdom in all that I do.
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