Jeremiah 18:5-10
“Then GOD’s Message came to me: ‘Can’t I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?’ GOD’s Decree! ‘Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you, people of Israel. At any moment I may decide to pull up a people or a country by the roots and get rid of them. But if they repent of their wicked lives, I will think twice and start over with them. At another time I might decide to plant a people or country, but if they don’t cooperate and won’t listen to me, I will think again and give up on the plans I had for them.’”
“Then the Lord gave me this message: ‘O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is I the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.”
Our mighty God, in the context of his divine purpose, does change his mind and this is one reason we pray. But there are two sides to this. He may choose to bless what was cursed and redeem what was lost. In Jesus Christ he brought all the blessing and redeeming to eternal perfection, calling all of us to be part of it. Or, he may choose to curse what was blessed. The redeeming Lord Jesus is the same one who judges. He juggles the infinite number of possible choices in the hearts of the world’s peoples to judge truly and fairly. Our prayers and behavior are the clay, and they determine the kind of pot God chooses to make of us.
Lord, I want your blessings. I hurt so in my mind and body right now and cannot welcome blessings that are a severe mercy. I feel I need the softer side of you right now. But that is the rub. I don’t know my deepest self or what I am capable of. You do and I know I can trust you, leaving all things in your generous and loving hands.