Page 53 - Fundamentals Ebook Final

When he was to go to the potter’s house, he was to keep his mouth
shut and say nothing; just look. So, Jeremiah went to the potter’s
house. Jeremiah 18:3&4, “Then I went down to the potter’s house,
and there he was, making something on the wheel. But the vessel
that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so
he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.
Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Can I not, O house
of Israel, deal with you as this potter does?’ declares the Lord.
‘Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O
house of Israel.’” God explains that at the potter’s house you will
see that My people are like clay.

I would like to invite you to use your imagination and to come with
me and the prophet to the potter’s house. What did he see? Jeremiah
18:3, “Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was,
making something on the wheel.” The potter was making something
on the wheel. Jeremiah didn’t know what but the potter knew what
he was making. The clay didn’t know but the potter knew. He was
making something on the wheel. In his mind the potter had a plan.
He had a blueprint and he had a purpose. He knew the end. There
was nothing arbitrary. He was making something.

When I was a child I played with modeling clay. I was not a potter.
My uncle would come and say (they called me “Butchie”), “Butchie,
what are you making?” I said, “What does it look like?” He said,
“It looks like a turtle.” I said, “Okay, I’m making a turtle.” He
would ask again, “What are you making?” And I would take another
piece of clay and was asked, “Butchie, is that an ash tray?” I said,
“Yes.” I had no plan. I made a ball. I made a pancake. I made a
snake but I had no purpose.

When Jeremiah went to the potter’s house he saw the mind of the
potter and that he was making something. It’s not a game with God.
Pottery is His vocation. It’s not His hobby. He’s not trying to amuse
Himself with clay. You are not an experiment with the Lord. When
He deals with us, He has in His mind what He is doing. He’s