Jer. 18 potter analogy presents clearly from the beginning God is using this analogy of the potter to describe the nation of Israel, but Paul very specifically says: verse 20: But who are you, a human being
which means Paul is addressing an individual and not addressing a nation like God was in Jer. 18.
Also, individuals are being addressed like one of you
, Esua, Jacob, Pharaoh, Isaac, and really salvation is individualistic.
I have written a rather long explanation of Romans 9, but bottom line (Rm 9: 14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!...) God is totally fair and as just as any being could be. Paul is for the rest of Romans 9-11 explaining how God is just/fair even when it seems to humans God is not being just/fair.
But which human beings that Paul is very specifically addressing would have any feelings of God being unfair?
First who is Paul talking to Jewish and Gentile Christians in Rome during the first century prior most likely any apostle going to Rome.
Do you see how; a first century pagan gentile, that became a Christian, might perceived injustice in Gods preparing them from birth, as compared to highly moral well bible versed first century Jews that became Christians?
This Jew gentile conflict between Christians is a huge part of the Roman letter.
The bottom line (as we might all agree) is it does not matter if you were born Jew or Gentile they both sinned big time and both had a hard time accepting Gods charity and new way of living.
As far as Romans 9 this is what I have written as an introduction before:
Verses are pulled out of Romans 9 to support the idea God makes people a particular way so He will save them and makes others a particular way so they will be eternally lost. That is not what is being conveyed by these particular verses.
To best interpret any verse good hermeneutics would have you first understand the context, context, context and context. Who is writing, to whom is he writing, why, where, when is he writing. The questions for Romans 9 would include:
Paul uses two teaching methods taught in secular philosophy classes and Romans is used even in secular classes as the best example of these methods. Paul does an excellent job of building one premise on the previous premises to develop his final conclusions. Paul uses an ancient form of rhetoric known as diatribe (imaginary debate) asking questions and giving a strong By no means and then goes on to explain why not. These questions or comments are given by an imaginary student making it more a dialog with the readers (students) and not just a sermon.
The main question in Romans 9 Paul addresses is God being fair or just Rms. 9:14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!
Would the Jewish Christian have a problem with being considered the special group with a special purpose from their birth or would it be the Gentile Christians that saw themselves like Esau and Ismael?
That is what is at issue and Paul will explain over the rest of Romans 9-11.
Paul is specific with the issue Rms. 9: 19 One of you will say to me: Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?
Who is the one of you is this Jewish Christian (elect) or Gentile Christian (elect) or is this non-elect individual (this letter is not being written to non-Christians)?
Can Jews say they cannot be blamed for failing in their honored position or would it be the Gentiles that would say they cannot be blamed since they were not in the honored position?
Is it really significant in what really counts, if you are born a gentile or Jew in the first century in Rome?
The Gentiles might have felt like second class children of God compared to the chosen Jews, but Paul spends lots of words in Ro. 9-11 saying that even though the Jews were made for a special purpose, lots of them remain lost, so it is really no better being a Jew prior to conversion.
The Jews were created in a special honorable position that would bring forth the Messiah and everyone else was common in comparison.
How do we know Paul is specifically addressing the Jew/Gentile issue? Rms. 9: 30 What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone.
Paul is showing from the position of being made common vessels by God the Gentiles had an advantage over the born Israelites (vessels of honor) that had the Law, since the Law became a stumbling stone to them. They both needed faith to rely on Gods Love to forgive them.
We could get into a long discussion of honorable and dishonorable vessels which some equate the dishonorable as being like clay pigeons made for destruction, but that is not the best translation of these words. Paul uses the same words conveying the same idea in 2 Tim. 2: 20 In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. 21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
In Tim. Paul talks about these same dishonorable vessels in a rich persons house (definitely not clay pigeons) and these dishonorable vessels (common vessels) can be made holy (which fits the Gentiles being made holy).
All clay vessels become damaged over time and fit for destruction, but that is not the way the potter made them.
The Potter has to remake the honorable (special purpose) or dishonorable (common objective) vessels that have become damaged as only God the Potter can.
Without going into the details of Romans 9-11 we conclude with this diatribe question: Romans 11: 11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring!
The common vessels (gentiles) and the vessels of honor (Jews) are equal individually in what is really significant when it comes to salvation, so God is not being unjust or unfair with either group.