If They Change Their Ways, I Will Then Relent And Refrain From Doing The Harm I Had Intended To Do

"This is the word of YAHWEH that came to Jeremiah: 'Go down to the potter's house and there you will hear what I have to say.' 

So I went to the potter's house and found him working at the wheel.  But the pot he was working on was spoiled in his hands, so he reworked it all over again into another pot that suits his desire.

Meanwhile YAHWEH sent me HIS word, 'People of Israel, can I not do with you what this potter does?  As clay in the potter's hand so are you in MY hands.

At times I warn a nation or a kingdom that I will uproot or destroy it.  But if they change their ways, I will then relent and refrain from doing the harm I had intended to do.

At other times I declare that a nation or kingdom will be built up and planted but then they do what displeases ME and do not listen to ME, so I decide to reverse the good deeds that I intend to do.'

And YAHWEH added, 'Now tell the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem: YAHWEH says to you, 'Listen, I AM planning to destroy you; I AM hatching a devastating plot against you!  Turn from your evil ways; rectify your conduct and your deeds.'  But you reply: 'It's no use!  We shall follow our own plans; and each one goes on obeying his stubborn heart.'" - Jeremiah 18:1-12 

(In several parts of the Scriptures, the comparison with the potter serves to show that GOD is absolute master and directs the lives of all according to HIS will: individuals as well as nations [see Isaiah 29:16 and Romans 9:20].  Here the same comparison is used to provide another teaching which complements the first: namely that we are free.

If they change their ways, I will then relent and refrain from doing the harm I had intended to do.  At any time, one can be converted and GOD will act accordingly.  There is no plan of GOD written beforehand that we have to follow, pushed to do good or evil by some fatal destiny.  GOD is continually creating us and HE achieves HIS plan for the world while renewing each day the free relation it maintains with us.  Scripture supports these two statements, that nothing escapes GOD and that we are free.)

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