The Potter and the Clay

God applies the example of the potter and the clay, as nations are clay in the hands of God to be shaped or dashed to pieces as He wills. Consequently, only Israel and Judah had promises by God regarding restoration and God’s Millennial reign. But America has no biblical promises and is facing ruin and destruction for her many sins which she’s not content to keep within her own borders, but spreads throughout the entire world. America turning from God and His many blessings heaping up wrath on her head will see her join the other great nations of the world on the scrap heap of history, unless she turns from her sin and back to God. However, America is just as stubborn as Judah was before being conquered and carried away as slaves, so I don’t see God relenting of the disaster He has planned for her.

Jeremiah 18:5–12

[5] Then the word of the LORD came to me: [6] “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. [7] If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, [8] and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. [9] And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, [10] and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will relent of the good that I had intended to do to it. [11] Now, therefore, say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘Thus says the LORD, Behold, I am shaping disaster against you and devising a plan against you. Return, every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your deeds.’

[12] “But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ (ESV)

And what does God say about the human heart?

Jeremiah 17:9–10

[9] The heart is deceitful above all things,
    and desperately sick;
    who can understand it?
[10] “I the LORD search the heart
    and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
    according to the fruit of his deeds.” (ESV)