13 The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.[b]
14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” 15 Woe to those who go to great depths
to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” 16 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”?
(Potter and his wheel)
Thoughts: In these short verses are a number of important concepts.
1) Just because someone says they have faith does not mean they really do (vs. 13).
2) God sees and will punish those who try to do evil schemes- thinking God does not see (vs. 15)
3) The clay cannot say to the potter "You are ignorant."
Jesus picked up on these concepts of humility and transparency. We cannot hide our fake faith from God. We cannot think that the One who made every molecules cannot see, hear, or be able to help. Our pride keeps us thinking we can hide our sincerity or our schemes from God. Our pride makes us think our plans are better than God's plans and we can judge THE Judge. It is a bit like the two year old holding their hands over their eyes and saying that the rest of us have disappeared. Or, the two year old who knows much better than mommy or daddy. Our great reason and wisdom is limited. Verse 14 gives God's reaction to their pride- it is to astound them with wonder upon wonder. This is not simply miracles, but also plagues- disasters, so that the educated are humbled. In our day in America, the most brilliant economist, the best studied meteorologist, the astute politician are already confounded. I believe this is a call for us through God's providence to humble ourselves and come to Him who made us.
Prayer: Let not my pride keep me from thinking you do not see or care. Keep me from being quick to judge you. Instead, help me to find peace with you.
14 Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” 15 Woe to those who go to great depths
to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” 16 You turn things upside down, as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? Can the pot say to the potter, “You know nothing”?
(Potter and his wheel)Thoughts: In these short verses are a number of important concepts.
1) Just because someone says they have faith does not mean they really do (vs. 13).
2) God sees and will punish those who try to do evil schemes- thinking God does not see (vs. 15)
3) The clay cannot say to the potter "You are ignorant."
Jesus picked up on these concepts of humility and transparency. We cannot hide our fake faith from God. We cannot think that the One who made every molecules cannot see, hear, or be able to help. Our pride keeps us thinking we can hide our sincerity or our schemes from God. Our pride makes us think our plans are better than God's plans and we can judge THE Judge. It is a bit like the two year old holding their hands over their eyes and saying that the rest of us have disappeared. Or, the two year old who knows much better than mommy or daddy. Our great reason and wisdom is limited. Verse 14 gives God's reaction to their pride- it is to astound them with wonder upon wonder. This is not simply miracles, but also plagues- disasters, so that the educated are humbled. In our day in America, the most brilliant economist, the best studied meteorologist, the astute politician are already confounded. I believe this is a call for us through God's providence to humble ourselves and come to Him who made us.
Prayer: Let not my pride keep me from thinking you do not see or care. Keep me from being quick to judge you. Instead, help me to find peace with you.
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