God is the Master Craftsman

God is the Master Craftsman

Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces. Jeremiah 23:29  

God is the Master Craftsman.

Definitions

Craftsman:  one who practices a trade or handicraft.

Blacksmith:  a metalsmith who creates and repairs objects by hand from wrought iron or steel, using high temperature and hammer.  

Forge:  The place where a blacksmith works.

Dad’s Work

I am intrigued with blacksmiths and forges.  Perhaps my interest comes from my dad’s occupation.  He was a foundry foreman for a tractor plant in Iowa.  He monitored the furnace which melted down iron, ultimately used to make tractors.  I learned from a young age, the power and necessity of fire to get rid of impurities in the process of creating something new.

The Art of Blacksmithing

Have you ever observed a blacksmith working?  This craftsman painstaking alternates between fire, water, and hammer, to re-shape a solid object, ultimately  creating a novel work of art.

Watch this 3 minute video that describes the trade. 

 https://youtu.be/q8OjgE9U55w?si=A2nS3PsQ9kXpdyUD

God is the Master Craftsman

God breaks down obstacles and reveals truth. 

Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces.  Jeremiah 23:29

Initially when I read this verse I am startled, because it reveals the power of God’s Word.  Fire and hammer can inflict force, destruction, and pain.  However, God isn’t trying to pound His Word into me.  Instead, He is slowly removing the impurities within my hardened heart. Once they are gone, He can design something new and beautiful.  God works slowly and methodically using the elements of fire, water, and hammer, to get rid of the imperfections, so He can mold me into His likeness.

Patience in the Making

Blacksmithing takes time.  Little-by-little the hardened metal is softened, reshaped, and ultimately transformed into a new creation.

Yes, God is the Master Craftsman!

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank you for loving me so much that you want to create something beautiful in me! I praise you that you are the ultimate master craftsman.  Amen.

Questions to Consider:

1. Share a time when God’s Word was instrumental in purifying your heart.
2. What is something new that God is doing in my life?