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The Potter’s Plan – Isaiah 45:1-9
A poet from England, Tom Roberts, has done a video about a father in the future reading to his son about the great coronavirus pandemic that occurred years ago, and the great realization that came from it. His perspective is that this horrible thing actually had a very good realization come out of it that changed the world for the better. Whether his prediction will come true or not, the principle of something good coming out of something bad is illustrated in Isaiah’s prophecy.
Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed:
“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.
“Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it.
“Woe to him who strives with him who formed 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’? (Isaiah 45:1-9 ESV)
Yahweh speaks in prediction, through Isaiah, the name of the ruler in Babylon who will reap such destruction throughout the earth. God says He is the one making Cyrus successful so that Cyrus and the nations may know Yahweh has anointed him for this task. Though Cyrus does not know Yahweh, Yahweh knows him and describes Himself to Cyrus as Yahweh the only God. He forms light and darkness, well-being and calamity. He is sovereign.
Yahweh then calls upon the heavens to rain righteousness and cause the earth to bear righteous fruit. His use of Cyrus and Babylon to discipline Israel is a step toward His bringing in righteousness. But if anyone doesn’t like God’s plan, woe to him. What pot would question the potter as to why he does what he does. But we do just that. Look at Habakkuk 1. How can God use evil to accomplish good? We think we know better than God how things should be done. We arrogantly suppose that our plan makes better sense. But He is the master potter. God’s handle-less pottery is perfectly crafted and purposeful. His plan is always good.
Discussion Questions
- Do you like or dislike rain showers? Why or why not?
- The value of moderate rain showers for growth of crops is apparent. But if such rain is preceded by a tornado, we may question its value. What was the tornado that God said was going to precede the shower of righteousness?
- Do you think Cyrus ever learned that the God of Israel claimed to have had predicted Cyrus’ reign and claimed to have empowered his military victories?
- Why does God’s willingness to use calamity, like the Babylonian juggernaut, to accomplish His will, seem problematic?
- How can God validly put off the complaints of humans that His decisions are not just?
- How does this prophecy challenge your own concerns for how God does things?
About the Author Randall Johnson
A full-time pastor since 1979, Randall originally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM) in 1979 and from Reformed Theological Seminary (DMin) in 1998. He is married with four grown children and a pile of epic grandchildren.
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A Study of Psalm 16 (verse 8, Not Shaken)
A Study of Psalm 16 (verse 7, Counsel)
A Study of Psalm 16 (verses 5&6, Portion)
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