On the contrary, who are you, a human being, to talk
back to God? Will what is formed say to the one who formed it, “Why did you
make me like this?” Or has the potter no right over the clay, to make from the
same lump one piece of pottery for honor and another for dishonor?
This next reference is more of a summary than a direct
quote. We see the potter reference throughout the book of Isaiah
29:13-21, 45:1-13, 64. We also see a similar reference in Jeremiah
18:1-12. Paul used this similar imagery in 2 Timothy
2:20.
In the Isaiah 29:13-21 Israel had gone astray. They were not
following God. As a result, they were in rebellion against God. The clay
speaking against the potter is a ironic metaphor in this case. They were being
disobedient against God. In this sense they were making themselves equal to God
as if God was not their maker. This metaphor is describing Israel’s rejection
of God. It also is referencing the nation not individuals. As a people they have
rejected God.
The context of the next section Isaiah
45:1-13 is a divine letter to a future king. King Cyrus was the instrument
God used to restore the people of Israel. God used Isaiah’s prophetic role to
write out His intentions. This “letter” to Cyrus starts in the previous chapter
where God says Isaiah 44:28 “who says to Cyrus, “My shepherd, he will
fulfill all my pleasure” and says to Jerusalem, “She will be rebuilt,” and of
the temple, “Its foundation will be laid.””
The reason I refer to this as a divine letter is that the
prophecy occured about 140 years before Cyrus came to power and about 160 years
before the events the prophecy describes. Further it is written by the
historian Josephus that this section of Isaiah was shared with Cyrus and was
the motivation for Cyrus’ decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:2-4).
The Works of
Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 1: How Cyrus, King of the Persians, Delivered the Jews out of
Babylon, and Suffered Them to Return to Their Own Country, and to Build Their
Temple; for Which Work He Gave Them Money
This was known to Cyrus by his reading the book which
Isaiah left behind him of his prophecies
Imagine reading a scroll that mentions you and your
circumstances specifically and that this scroll was written 160 years before
you read it.
Back to the potter metaphor. Leading up to the Potter
statement God (Isaiah
45:9) is declaring His authority as the creator of the universe through the
Prophet Isaiah. Then what follows is more of the same sentiment. God is using
this metaphor to describe His authority as the maker of all things. In Isaiah 45:10
we also see that this potter metaphor is describing the creation of Israel as a
nation. He continues on describing His authority up to verse 13. Then the
message changes to focus on Israel’s salvation. On verse in particular stands
out to me.
“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth. For
I am God, and there is no other.”
Over and over again the Bible proclaims that to be saved it
requires turning to God. This only makes sense in my estimation if that choice
is meaningful. If that is not a meaningful choice then it is not sincere faith.
When God arbitrarily chooses who will be saved and who will be condemned that
means that turning is not really a meaningful choice. It is simply the
fulfillment of God’s choice to save or not save.
In Isaiah 64:8-12 we see again that the potter clay picture is
being used to describe the nation of Israel. We (plural) are the clay
(singular). The only way for this statement to be true is to understand it to
mean We (people making up the nation of Israel) are the clay (the nation that
God is molding). “All of us are your people.” Does this mean that all are saved
who are of Israel? Of course not! Yet all are part of God’s elect for the
purposes that God has set forth for the nation of Israel. That is to be the
Covenant of the Law, Nation of priests, and the seed of salvation.
In Isaiah 65 we see God’s response. There is a lot there and
perhaps in a future post we can explore it in greater depth. But I want to
point out a couple of observations. God says that Israel has not sought God,
and that they have rejected God. As a result, they will face judgement. However,
starting with Isaiah
65:8 we see there is a subset of Israel that God is going to preserve and
bless. Who are these people? “Those who have sought me (God).” Isaiah 65:10.
Literally those that have placed their faith in God. Who are the people that
face judgement? Those that abandon God, ignore God’s call, do evil, and choose
things that God does not delight in (Isaiah
65:11-12).
In Jeremiah 18:5-11 we see that once again the potter clay
picture represents the “House of Israel.” We note that clearly God is talking
about nations. Also again we see God’s solution to the impending destruction to
“Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds” Jeremiah 18:11).
One last stop in cross references about the potter clay
picture. In 2 Timothy 2:20-21 “Now in a large house there are not only
gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some for honorable
use and some for dishonorable. So if anyone purifies himself from anything
dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master,
prepared for every good work.” This does not have the potter, but it does have
the “vessels.” This passage covers a similar motif and is also written by Paul.
I want to note that there are honorable and dishonorable vessels just as in
Romans 9. The distinction though is made in that the honorable vessels have
purified themselves “from anything dishonorable.”
So, what can we conclude. As has been the case with the direct
quotes from the Old Testament this potter/clay metaphor used in several
passages in the Old Testament also deals with Israel as a nation. It is hard to
escape the impression that Paul seems to be talking about Israel as a nation
and not a doctrine of individual election in Romans 9.
We still have more passages to explore.
God Bless You
~BJ Olson
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