The Potter vs. The Clay Pot: A Metaphor
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Note: I used the pot and potter as metaphors to show the relationship between God (potter) and man (pot)



See this beautiful clay pot? Before it came into this, it started as a lump of clay—a lump of clay that is formless, without any specific purpose...it’s nothing but a lump of clay.



"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Genesis 2:7, KJV


Without a purpose, it will just be a lump of clay that can be thrown out anywhere...anytime. It’s just a piece of dirt.







However, the potter sees otherwise. He sees not just a lump of clay. He sees a work of art...He envisions something out of that lump of dirt that can be useful for his purpose. And so he makes a plan and puts it into action.



"But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Isaiah 64:8, KJV



The potter works on the clay to form the design he wants to. It starts of as a lump of clay...He puts the lump of clay into the machine and then slowly forms something out of it. Slowly but surely, a magnificent work of art is formed after a significant amount of time of molding and shaping the clay.



"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" Psalm 139:14


After he creates the design of the clay, he puts it out of the sun to be dried so that it will harden. And when it has hardened, it will now be ready to be used for its purpose.

“…even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.” 2nd Corinthians 4:16-17












The clay is also vulnerable to breakage. If it is not carefully stored or used it might get broken and shatter into pieces. How can you use it for the purpose it is intended to be if it’s broken? It’s simply not worth using anymore.






"For all have sinned and fall shortof the glory of God" Romans 3:23


The clay pot may be shattered...but the potter can still make the clay pot whole again. He will collect the broken pieces and form it again into a lump of clay...




...and then mold and form it into the purpose he originally intended it to be...dries it out in the sun and then when it is hardened enough the clay pot will now be used for the purpose it was created.


“Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7

"He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet on a rock, and established my goings" Psalm 40:2

“Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and earthenware, some for special use, some for ordinary. So if anyone purifies himself from these things, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20-21
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1 Response
  1. Carla Gade Says:
    October 27, 2010 at 10:55 PM

    What a beautiful illustration of God's wonderous purpose for us! Thank you so much for sharing this.

    Blessings,
    Carla
    http://writingtodistraction.blogspot.com


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