Symbolic Acts – Hit the Mark
“But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8
Image © Linda Lovett from GoodSalt.com
The familiar story of the potter and the clay teaches us profound lessons. For Jeremiah, it illustrated that God is able to not only create, but to start all over if necessary. He could build up the nation if their deeds were righteous. Likewise, He could also tear down if their deeds were evil.
“Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it.” Jeremiah 18:6-9
God has the final say on their destiny as a nation. It is their choice on what that outcome will be.
I found a parallel to an artist from the simpler days of TV in this symbolic lesson. I remember watching an artist who painted landscapes on a weekly show. The Joy Of Painting is now considered a classic show where each episode consisted of watching the soft-spoken Bob Ross as he painted various landscapes.
(c) Bob Ross Inc.
With the camera looking over his shoulder, the artist would talk to his viewers as he took a blank canvas and turned it into a real work of art. We all knew there would be a good outcome, but none of us knew exactly what that would be.
What interested me most was how often I thought he had done enough, only to have him to continue working on the painting. To my eyes, the sky, trees or water scenes were done to perfection. But to the artist, there was much more to do.
He would add a shade of color to an area I thought was already perfect and it became even better. He would scrape the paint in interesting ways to give texture and character to areas I would have never imagined needed any. But each pass of the brush and swipe of the blade revealed that the artist alone understood what he was trying to accomplish.
On and on he would paint, adding more and more to increase the beauty of his paintings. While I would have been satisfied with his painting in its elementary stages, I was struck by how much improvement was possible when guided by the hands of a master.
And that’s just like our God. Just as only the artist knew what he wanted the final picture to be, only God knows what we can be as a result of His molding.
How often we would have settled in life doubting that there could be anything more for us to be or to do. Many have felt that their best years were behind them and their contributions to this life and to the cause of God had long ago expired when God called them to something new. As humans we see things with human limitations. But God is not a man. His ways are higher than ours and His plans for our lives are higher than we often believe.
“I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isaiah 13:12
Our capacities for good, for service and righteousness are not dependent on our birth, lineage or current station in life. It’s a point that Jesus proved extensively. As He intersected lives of ordinary people, His simple touch was enough to change the trajectory of their lives completely.
To those with physical illnesses, diseases and disabilities, He gave a new start in life beyond anything they ever imagined. Those under the control of demonic powers, He freed to live lives of purpose and usefulness. Those weighted down under the guilt of sin, He relieved from their burden as only divine forgiveness could bring. And in each case, only Jesus knew what the final outcome would be.
Here are a few Hit the Mark questions for this week’s lesson discussion:
- What does being molded by God mean to you?
- Explain the purpose of God’s molding in the believer’s life.
- How can one tell, if at all, if they are being molded by God?
- What, if any, is our role in the molding process?
- Is it true that God focuses on helping us overcome major sins and not so much what is commonly considered as common, insignificant sins? Why yes or no?
- What role, if any, does Bible study play in the molding process?
- Is the following statement True, Mostly True, Somewhat True or Not True: Learning how to properly react to negative actions or words against us by others is a part of the molding process. Explain your answer.
We close this week’s lesson on Symbolic Acts with the first mention of God molding recorded in the Bible. Fittingly, it was when he shaped man. Only God knew then and only God knows now what man can become when united with Him:
“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 being.” Genesis 2:7
Until next week, let’s all continue to Hit the Mark in Sabbath School!
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