Listen to Jeremiah 18-19

Here we see in Jeremiah 18 another object lesson from the Lord. God says, “go down to the Potter’s house and watch how the potter works the clay.” The potter was making the clay into a particular kind of vessel but the clay became flawed and so he turned the clay into a different kind of vessel.

“House of Israel, can I not treat you as this potter treats his clay?”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “Just like clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.

Jeremiah 18:6

In our post from last Friday, we see that God will write a reroute into the story for His people to return Him and here we find in verses 7 through 11 God will announce and tell us in a warning to turn from our sin. He is a good God who will provide a way out. Whether we take it or not is on us. Will we take the way of escape?

Israel and Judah would not listen and instead they decided to do to Jeremiah what the Pharisees would do to Jesus. They would plot against him. Instead of turning from their sin and listening to the one who is warning them of their destruction they would speak against him, dig a pit for him, and lay hidden snares for his feet. Again, we find Jeremiah frustrated with the way these people are responding. The Lord tells him in chapter 19 to go and buy a potter’s clay jar and go to Ben Hinnom Valley, the place where they burned incense to other gods and filled it with the blood of the innocent by burning their children in the fire at the high places of Baal. The Lord tells him to shatter the jar in the presence of the people. Tell them, “I will shatter these people in pieces like one shatters a potter’s jar that can never be mended. Disaster is coming!

Can you see the heart of a Father? Over and over through object lessons, sending a prophet, and declaring what is coming. God is calling over and over to His children to repent and return to Him. They have become obstinate, not obeying God’s words.’” ( Jeremiah 19:15)

Have you ever been warned to stop doing something and you just keep going? Did that turn out well? In the early day’s of meeting my husband (before we were married and before Jesus became my Lord) I was very mouthy. I said what ever I wanted to say with no regard as to how it would be recieved or how it could hurt another. I didnt know him very well. He said something to me and I cursed at him. He said, “You will not speak to me that way. Saying that means to me that you do not want me here and that you do not respect me. Dont say that again or I will leave.” Me being me at that time. Tested him. I cursed at him again. And he grabbed up his stuff and started backing out of the driveway. I relented and begged him to stay. I repented. I said, “Im sorry, Im sorry!” He relented from leaving and I learned a lesson that day. This man means what he says and says what he means.

This is what is happening in the book of Jeremiah. God is saying what He means and is about to show then He means what He says. He is giving warnings and making it clear what is about to take place if they do not stop and repent for what they have done. And they like me are testing Him. This hard headed and heart heartedness is exactly why Jesus came to die. God knows and we can see from this study that we will not be detered from sinning. We need a Savior who can transform our hearts.

What will God have to do to get through to us? How many times do we have to go around this same problem before we wake up? Will we hear and see the warning signs ahead and refuse to turn from our obstinate ways? Calamity is head!

Jesus is just around the corner. Have you heard Him calling? Turn toward Him today.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla