“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). However, in today’s world, it is very difficult for children to think of their fathers as those who would mold them into something they wanted them to be. Indeed it is difficult for modern day fathers to think that way.
We have been so conditioned to believe every man is the master of his own destiny and has total rights over his own life that the idea of being putty in God’s hand is repugnant or only rarely comes to mind. As Christians, we should understand that our Father is our Creator, Master, Lord and Guide (Romans 1:18-23). As our Father, He has the responsibility of training us to be faithful children who will submit to His authority and guidance (Hebrews 12:5-11).
From our reading Old Testament Scriptures, we can more fully appreciate God as the Father of the faithful in the New Testament. He knows all about His children, even numbering the hairs on their heads (Matthew 10:30). He protects His children and rescues them when they are in trouble or need guidance (Romans 8:26-27, 34). He teaches them the way that they should go (Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5) and supplies all of their needs (Matthew 6:33). In turn, our Heavenly Father expects honor from His children even though He does not always receive it (Isaiah 1:11-17; Acts 7:38-39). Jesus sought to instill reverence and honor in the disciples when He taught them to pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9).
The writer of the Hebrew letter said it so well. “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live” (Hebrews 12:7-9)? When we agree to be baptized into God’s family, we agree to submit to the Father’s reproof, rebuke and correction as faithful children. We also agree that we will follow Him to be like Him (Ephesians 5:1-2). He uses His Scriptures to rebuke, chasten, correct and instruct us in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).
Another concept gleaned from Isaiah 64:8 is the idea of being clay in God’s hands. The entire verse is acknowledging the power and authority of God. The fact is that we are helpless to change ourselves to be useful tools without His divine guidance and molding through His inspired Word. Do we really want to submit to His will so that we become what He wants us to be rather than what we might desire? We must soften our will, become humble and malleable in His hand. We must pray and be willing to be made vessels fit for honorable use (Romans 9:21; 2 Timothy 2:20-21). If we humbly serve Jesus according to our Father’s will, He will honor us (John 12:26). Let’s glorify our Father together!
