The-Potters-Hand
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please
do NOT visit this site
on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout
this site I may use any of three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant versions, However, the
JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah =
History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical
books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or
Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of
Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history
of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some alterations
or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים – Elohim (God), having been corrected like it once was pre
the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
However, what have both priests and rabbis of the past done,
they purposely made grave and ridiculous additions and disgraceful changes!
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With Rabbi,
Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Please Note: All verses in this
study are from the JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh.
Introduction:
What do you see when you look upon a lump of clay? You may see a dry piece of dirt you cannot do very much with. Now imagine if a potter were to look at that same lump of clay. What do you think He might see? I know that he would see endless possibilities!
For interest, many years ago I
personally created various items from clay as a potter, thus this study has
deep meanings!
The Potter at Work:
Have you ever seen a potter at work on his wheel? It is certainly fascinating to watch. To see a seemingly useless piece of clay ‘formed’ and ‘fashioned’ into a beautiful pot is quite an amazing thing to witness.
“But now, O יְהוָה - LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter, and we all are the work of Thy hand”. Isaiah 64:7.
Isaiah uses a ‘word picture’ to describe our relationship with
יְהוָה - LORD our beloved Heavenly Father. He
(Isaiah) describes אֱלֹהִים - Elohim
as our potter, and we are the clay. This description is an excellent
illustration, and I can see why it is used several times throughout our scripture!
Although it is Jeremiah who covers the pottery story.
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim
is our Master Potter, and we are like clay in his hands. Knowing this can help
us better understand the trials we face in this life. They are all used by the
potter to shape and mould us into honourable vessels, fit for the master’s good
use.
Let us dive a little deeper into the process of making a vessel from clay and see how it relates to the life of us Hebrews who are (please אֱלֹהִים - Elohim) Faithful to our original ancient faith.
A Design in Mind:
Before a potter sits down at his wheel, He prepares the clay by kneading it and making sure there are no air bubbles in the clay. Of course, He has a design in mind for this particular piece of clay all while He is doing this. He knows the exact amount of clay needed for the vessel He will form. As He kneads the clay, and He begins to think about the function this vessel will have.
The potter thinks, I need something I can pour various liquids into. This vessel needs to be able to hold the liquid well and pour it out at a whim. I have it! I will make a beautiful cup that can fulfill this need.
Can you picture אֱלֹהִים - Elohim being this way before He formed you in your mother’s womb? יְהוָה - the LORD knew exactly what He had in mind before He reached for the clay that He formed you with. He had a design in mind and knew what function He wanted you to fulfill whilst on the earth.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith יְהוָה - the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. Jeremiah 29:11.
Trusting the Mind of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim:
Oftentimes we do not trust the mind of the potter. We begin to think we know what is best for us. I know I have been there. יְהוָה - the LORD tells me He will form me into a “cup”, and I begin to explain to him the design I have in my mind for myself. I begin to say - “But יְהוָה - LORD, I do not want to be just a measly old cup! I think I would be more useful to you as a plate. Yes, יְהוָה - LORD, a plate is what is best for me!”
How can we, the clay, tell the potter what is best for us?
Yet, we do this time and time again. We become like the children of
“O your perversity! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; that the thing made should say of him that made it: ‘He made me not’; or the thing framed say of him that framed it: ‘He hath no understanding?’” Isaiah 29:16.
אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, in fact, knows all things. We can trust in his omniscience. He knows what vessel He desires to form you into. You and I both can rest in the plans He has in His mind for us.
The Potter at His Wheel:
The potter has envisioned the vessel He desires to form and then proceeds to take a seat at his wheel. He grabs the clay and places it precisely on the center of the wheel. His foot touches the petal that enables the wheel to spin, and the process begins. Round and round, the clay spins and the potter begins to add water to the clay. This happens, so the clay doesn’t dry out and will ensure it remains pliable in his hands. As the clay spins, the potter goes to work.
As the skilled potter works, He knows the precise amount of pressure to apply to the clay. He knows when to loosen his grip, and He knows where to trim off parts of the clay to form the vessel He has envisioned. His hands are used to shape and mould. The piece of clay that once laid lifeless is now coming to life. It is being fashioned on the wheel into a vessel that will be useful to the potter.
The Father at His Wheel:
The Lord is like the potter from the description above. Our heavenly Father is the most skillful potter we know. Each of us is like clay on His wheel. As He begins to form us into a usable vessel, He knows the right amount of pressure to apply to our lives. This pressure can show up in our lives as trials and - or hardships.
Sometimes the pressure He decides to use is a little too much for us. So what do we do … we get up from our Father’s wheel.
When we get up from the Master Potter’s wheel, other things step in and become the potter for us. Our will can become our potter. The expectations of other people can become our potter. And worse of all, the enemy can become our potter. All of these will result in the clay being ‘marred’ or ‘disfigured’ because none of these other “potters” are qualified to do the job of the Master Potter. None of these “potters” have the mind of the Master Potter, and therefore can not possibly make what He intended with accuracy.
Get Back on the Wheel:
If you have gotten off the Potters wheel and have become marred, have no fear, beloved. Our אֱלֹהִים - Elohim is in the redeeming business!
And if the vessel that He made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so He made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. Then the word of יְהוָה - the LORD came to me, saying:
“And whensoever the vessel that He made of the clay was marred
in the hand of the potter, He made it again another vessel, as seemed good to
the potter to make it. Then the word of יְהוָה - the
LORD came to me, saying: ‘O house of
אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, can ‘form’ and ‘reform us’ if need be. So even if we get off of His wheel, we can get back on and
allow אֱלֹהִים - Elohim to reform us into the vision He had in mind, to begin with,-הוּא בָּרוּךְ - Blessed be He!
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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are
located down the page!
This site was originally created, for those who desired to
return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith
and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our
beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is
always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site
has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said
the following through a number of our prophets...
“The More Torah, the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”
May
the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts, be with you, and
please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts,
and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
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