In the Potters Hands

Our Western culture tells us that each of us can be 'whatever we want to be'. Decide your goal and go for it! There are positives to this philosophy, but it risks leaving God out of the equation, and assumes everything is in our hands.

Jeremiah, in chapter 18, is instructed to go down to the Potter's House for a touch of prophecy through watching an artisan! The potter shapes the pot, and on discovering a defect goes on to re-shape it. God speaks to Jeremiah about the shaping of not just individuals, but whole nations.

Jeremiah learns that God can both shape and 'un-shape' nations as per His choosing - they are each like clay in His hands. So far this is not so surprising. But Jeremiah is also told that God's shaping/un-shaping plans can change, depending on a nation's response to God's announcements. Just as the potter can change approach, or re-shape part way through ... God can adjust depending on the people's response. The surrounding chapters of Jeremiah make clear that 'the response' includes their belief, loyalty to His covenant, and implementing God's compassion and justice.

Today at the national level we see nations arrogantly pursue their own agendas to shape and re-shape the governance of other lands and peoples as if they had some God-given right to be the potter. History repeats itself as a people-group of one nation - themselves once oppressed - are now led by a government that becomes oppressor towards others, propagating mass injustices. We watch with bewilderment as these atrocities unfold, wondering why God seems to be allowing such horror to play out for so long.

Dear God - just how are you shaping/un-shaping through these current times?

But the 'response' comes down to individuals - and which path they will take (Jeremiah 18:15). Do we choose a path - an ancient path of humble faith - that let's God shape us towards who we can be? Recognising that our life is in His hands, we can venture forward with ambition ... but an ambition that is subject to His shaping and re-shaping.