Jehovah exercises his potterlike authority over humans by adjusting his dealings with them depending on their response to his molding.
أَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ يُقَاوِمُونَ ٱللهَ بِعِنَادٍ فَيَنْتَهِي بِهِمِ ٱلْمَطَافُ أَنْ يَكُونُوا « آنِيَةَ سُخْطٍ مُسْتَأْهِلَةً ٱلْهَلَاكَ » .‏ —‏ رو ٩ :‏ ​ ١٩ -‏ ٢٣‏ .‏