Zechariah’s Seventh Vision – Zechariah 5:5-11

Zechariah’s Seventh Vision

Text: Zechariah 5:5-11

The ephah basket represents God’s judgement on sin, so let us examine this basket in greater detail. Let us first look at:-

1. The Cover of the Basket!

1. Sin is very often covered! there was lifted up a talent of lead In the course of the vision, the lid that was on top of the basket was lifted up. Up until that point, this lid had been down, and the sin had been covered. Suddenly, when God’s timing was right, the lid was lifted! The sin was exposed! Numbers 32:23 says, Be sure your sin will find you out.
2. One day, the lid will permanently close! he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof In Zechariah’s vision, the angel cast down the lid forever. Sin and wickedness was crushed down into the basket of God’s judgement. . The wrath of God against impenitent sinners is unavoidable, and they cannot escape; today, this moment, is our opportunity to come to Christ and be saved for all eternity. 2 Cor. 6:2
3. Notice also the weight of this great lid. The Bible is very particular about this. It is made of lead. It is heavy. What an awful burden is the guilt of sin upon us!

2. The Capaciousness of the Basket!

This basket is an ephah, a very common dry measure in those days. Because the basket is symbolic of the punishment of God upon sin, then how great must be that punishment. See:-

1. The Measure is a GREAT MEASURE! Sin must never be trivialised. It often is today, but God never treats sin as unimportant.
   1. It is great in its depth! The punishment for sin must be in great measure, because of the AWFULNESS of sin and because Sin can BE FORGIVEN!
   2. It is great in its breadth! 5:6   This is their resemblance through all the earth. This was quite typical of mankind in general! We are all sinners. Romans 3:23 Romans 5:12 You will NOT be in heaven without Jesus Christ!
2. The Measure is being GRADUALLY FILLED UP! And he cast it into the midst of the ephah. There are two reasons why God is so longsuffering with both His wayward people and the sinful nations and individuals of the world.
   1. So that they might have time to repent. God is merciful and kind. The Scriptures say in 2 Peter 3:9
   2. To await the fullness of the measure of their sins. Now this is difficult for some people to grasp. As sin is being committed, God is already punishing that sin, but He often allows people to continue in sin, so that ‘the measure of their sin’ is filled up. Genesis 15:16   We wonder why the wicked prosper! Perhaps God is waiting until they fill up the measure of their iniquity! Judgement will come.
3. The Measure is GOING AWAY! This is an ephah that goeth forth It was seen by Zechariah to be leaving his position, and Zechariah was at Jerusalem. Judgment begins at the house of the Lord. God’s Word and God’s Church are to be the yard-stick, by which the world’s ethics are measured! The measure of judgement is proceeding out from the Lord’s House.

3. The Carrying Away of the Basket! v9-11

1. The Destination of Sin! Whither do these bear the ephah? The basket, now closed and borne by two other women, is now swiftly despatched to the land of Shinar in Babylonia. It was in the land from which the Israelites had already been delivered. For the Christian, Shinar would represent the bondage and misery of sin, the certain death and eternal destruction which we surely faced before conversion to Christ. This illustrated well the two destinies in Luke 16:22-24
2. The Deceitfulness of Sin! There were people in Jerusalem of that day who thought that they would be better off back in Babylon! They considered that the life in Jerusalem was too hard! They longed for the luxuries of Shinar! But the very place to which they looked for comfort and enjoyment was the place of desolation and eternal punishment!     Hebrews 11:24-26    
3. The Dwelling-place for Sin. To build it an house. Not a tent. A permanent dwelling place. Hell is for ever.

The overall message of this chapter is that punishment of sin is inescapable. It cannot be avoided for it MUST BE PUNISHED. It can never be overlooked or ignored. But it can BE TRANSFERRED. God the Father, in His love for worthless sinners sent His own Son to the Cross, where He took their sin upon Himself, and bore their punishment for them, and died that they might live! 1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Why die in your sin, when such a marvellous redemption is feely offered to you?

© Bob McEvoy

For further study: 

What should be the attitude of the Christian towards wealth and possessions?

Consider Job 31:24-28; 42:10; Psalm 37:16; Psalm 49:16-20; Proverbs 11:4, 15:16-17; Mark 10:17-27; 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

How should a Christian conduct himself in business?

Lev. 19:35-36; Luke 3:12-14; 2 Corinthians 8:21; Col. 3:22; 1 Thess. 4:11-12; 1 Peter 2:12.