Isa 45:9

Isa 45:9  Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?  Isaiah 45 is about God’s Sovereignty. God is omniscient. God saw into the future and prophesied the birth of the Persian King Cyrus 150 years before he was born (v.1-6). God is also omnipotent; He created all things (v.7-25). God formed man from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7). God is the Creator and man is His creation. For this reason, God deserves man’s total submission: “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?” (v.9). Woe to him who argues with God. A clay does not argue with the potter who shapes it. Yet, many like to argue with God. They got angry with God when He did not answer their prayers. It is only a fool who will be angry with the Almighty God. Perhaps, you have been tempted to be angry with God at one time or the other. It could be due to a prayer that was not answered (at least to you). It could be due to some “unfortunate” events that happened in your life or to someone you loved. Whatever the reason, you felt God should have prevented it. In 2 Kings 5:9-14, the proud Naaman was angry with Elisha for not coming out of his house to meet him personally. He was angrier when Elisha told him to wash in Jordan River seven times to be healed. In his rage, he set out to return to his home country. His servants convinced him to do as the prophet said. He obeyed and dipped in Jordan River seven times. He was healed. Naaman was striving with God and not with the prophet. It was God who told Elisha what to tell Naaman. Naaman didn’t like God’s method. God’s method seemed ridiculous. He flew into a rage. Don’t strive with God. Whatever God asks us to do something in a particular way, even when we do not understand, do it because God said so. His method may seem ridiculous. Naaman thought God’s method of healing him amounts to stupidity. Today, many think the idea that baptism can wash away sins is stupidity. But, it was the Son of God who spoke these words: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Just as God proved Naaman wrong, He will prove those critics wrong too. Remember this warning: “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!” Those who strive with God and His method will pay a heavy price for their disbelief. It is supreme folly and sin to strive with God Man is very apt to consider himself wiser than God. Many believe that if they could have a hand in the creation, they could improve it in many ways - maybe a bigger planet earth, a cooler sun, no desert, no virus and bacteria, no rats and cockroaches, human being can fly, no death, no earthquake, and so on. Well, such a place does exist; it is called heaven: “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Can any man be wiser than God? God knows what is best for us. To argue with the Creator is to assume a knowledge we do not have. God silenced His critics when He called Cyrus by name 150 years before he was born and predict what he will do (v.1-4). We can’t even predict what children we will have and what they will do when they grow up. God is Sovereign; let us submit to His will.