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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Isaiah 45:9, a text which reminds us of God’s ownership of our existence.
Woe to him who strives with Him who made him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to Him who forms it, “What are you making?” or “Your work has no handles”?
A few months ago, we were at the home of some friends who happened to have a Wii game system. I’m not much into gaming and had never messed with one of these, but I gave it a try, going up against my 4 year old in a boxing match. He’s about 40 lbs. with leg weights on and I’m about 210 without them, but somehow in this virtual world, he was able to knock me down several times simply by flailing wildly without even paying much attention to the screen. But normally at home when we “box” a knockout happens when he runs like a crazy tornado-driven windmill into my stationary fist. In case you haven’t guessed, this text pins you and I as the tiny squirts pretending to fight against God in our little virtual world–at least in those unfortunate moments of rebellion, whether out-right or more subtle.
This verse comes both after and before the rest of an illuminating chapter that identifies God as the great Sovereign over individuals and nations alike. He is the God who moves within great rulers like Cyrus, a man who didn’t even acknowledge God’s presence, to accomplish His purposes for His people, Israel. The idea then that any creature would strive against God, creatures that are simply one among a million others like them, seems absolutely maniacal. And yet we find ourselves asking the same types of questions that are reflected here, “What are you making?”, the context suggesting cynical doubt and a supposition that we would do so much better. And then the following statement revealing a similar attitude, “Your work has no handles.” Wow. “You could have done better, God!…You gave my neighbor more to work with than You gave to me!” Relate? Now our background, personality, civilities, etc. are all going to play into what this indignation looks like, however, we’ve probably all dealt with those feelings. But the declarations that we hear both in this place and throughout the Scriptures is one in which God is showing Himself to work things out according to His own plans for His own glory. Rest assured, He gladly invites us to share in His glory and has made the way for such at great personal cost by sending Jesus, but this sharing is for the ones who love His glory and not their own. All He is really asking us to do is to live according to reality and not in some virtual, video game world. He’s the glorious potter; we’re the pots He’s made, purposed, and owns. And for the submitted spirit, this is a wonderful thing.
Use me, Lord. Teach me to love Your splendor and not my imagined luster. Help me to know true fullness in the embracing of Your mighty kingship.
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2 Responses to “Isaiah 45:9–Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation”
I was taken by the stark difference in how the TNIV and ESV interpret who lacks "handles" in this verse. The TNIV ascribes the lack of handles to the potter, "The potter has no hands" while the ESV implies it is the pot "Your work has no handles" The Hebrew word yad does refer to hand or arm, so it isn't a stretch to think it could be referring to a handle, and I admit the TNIV translation has a bit of an awkward read the first time through. However, since yad is also a figurative form for power or control, the TNIV interpretation seems to make more sense in the overall context of the passage, which is pointing out the insanity of the thing made having the audacity to deny the sovereignty of its maker. The ESV translation and the interpretation you drew from it imply the thing made is merely critiquing its maker which isn't quite as audacious as denying the maker outright.
I think your interpretation of the phrase makes a lot of sense, especially when rooted in the ESV translation, so please don't think I'm being overly critical of the point you are making. No doubt we unduly question and complain about how we were made, but I am intrigued by the different ways this verse has been translated and how that impacts the interpretation that can be drawn from it.
I have used these post to start my day with God for the better part of two weeks now. Your post help get the wheels turning and help me dig deeper into the text than if I just picked up the verse up and read it. Keep up the good work.
Brent, thank-you so much for your comments!! It is so very helpful to have someone who is both encouraged by and helpfully critical of the posts I've been doing! One of the things that is a bit nerve racking to me is that I know I could go so much deeper into these verses even though I'm pretty committed to writing/voicing one for each weekday. I'm also trying to spend some time learning at a more seminary level since I didn't go that direction in my college years…so much to always grow in! All that to say, thanks for helping to keep me sharp, brother! I want to look into that verse again here soon to see more of what you discovered in your study. Blessings! –Seth