But now, Adonai, You are our Father.
We are the clay and You are our potter,
We are all the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:7[8], TLV

The Potter and the Clay. Today’s verse is tucked into a plea from Isaiah on behalf of his people. Because of the Jewish people’s rebellion against GOD, they would receive punishment — for a season. Still, not the news folks wanted to hear.

You meet him who rejoices in doing righteousness,
    who remembers You in Your ways.
Behold, You were angry.
When we keep sinning all the time,
    would we be saved? (vs. 4, TLV)

Isaiah — on behalf of his people — acknowledges the sins and acknowledges how foolish they are. It is the Father who is the Potter. He created us.

The imagery is powerful. Clay without water is dust. Once the pot is made, it is still fragile and could be crushed by a strong hand.

What does that mean for us? Perhaps too often we’re so caught up in our world, we forget just how fragile we and everything around us are.

Recently (10/13/21), William Shatner, the original Capt. Kirk of the Star Trek series, rode a rocket into space. Shatner was struck by the “fragility of this planet” during his flight to the edge of space “There’s this little tiny blue skin that’s 50 miles wide,” Shatner said, then the blackness of space. That tiny blue skin is what keeps us alive. How important it is to appreciate and care for this blessing.

Sometimes we need to “rocket” up and away from what we consider so important to realize just how fragile we are. How blessed we are. That we have a “Potter” who knows what it takes to keep this world from spinning out of control and us with it.

So, perhaps, when we become so full of our own needs and wants and desires, we look up at the expanse of GOD’s creation. Ground ourselves in His amazing grace and mercy and great love. And, give credit to the Potter.