Eight Visions of Power: Understanding Zechariah

Chapter 7: Vision 6 - The Flying Scroll (Zechariah 5:1-4)

In Zechariah Chapter 5, the sixth vision unfolds, offering us intriguing insights about God's judgment, sin, and the consequences that come when people turn away from Him. This vision uses imagery to convey important messages, declaring them unto Israel.

The chapter begins with Zechariah describing what he sees in verse 1: "Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll." The "flying roll" or scroll is a significant image. A scroll typically symbolizes a written message, and the fact that it is flying emphasizes its swift movement and urgency. It suggests that God is sending an important message to His people that requires their immediate attention. Ever see this on a banner tow at the beach? An airplane flying by with a sign saying "Eat At Joes" or "Will You Marry Me?" (Hence, a flying roll with a message)

In verse 2, the angel asks Zechariah, "And he said unto me, What seest thou?" Zechariah responds by describing the scroll's dimensions: "I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits." These measurements, quite large, represent the seriousness of the message being conveyed. The scroll's size indicates that it contains significant information about the sins of the people, Israel.

Verse 3 reveals what's written on the scroll: "Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth." This declaration introduces the scroll as a curse, signaling divine judgment. The message is clearly aimed at those who have sinned and acted unjustly. The scroll contains words of condemnation that affect everyone who does wrong, emphasizing that no one is exempt from God's standards of holiness.

Just as the scroll serves as a vehicle for judgment, the law functions the same way. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans that "by the law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). The law reveals God's expectations and highlights the ways in which humans fall short of His glory. It sets a standard for morality and righteousness, and when we measure our lives against that standard, we become acutely aware of our failings and shortcomings.

Like the scroll that signifies judgment, the law serves as a mirror, reflecting our sinful nature and leading us to understand the seriousness of our actions. It is not merely a list of rules to follow but a guide that points to our need for a Savior. Most likely in this vision, the law was written on the flying roll, and declared the whole earth guilty before God.

Continuing in verse 3, we learn more about the specific sins being addressed: "For every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it." Here, God identifies two particular offenses: stealing and swearing falsely. The scroll's curse highlights the consequences for these actions, indicating that they lead to separation from God's favor and protection. This conveys a universal principle: God holds all people accountable for their choices, especially regarding honesty and integrity.

To illustrate Israel's history of stealing, we can reference the words of the prophet Micah, who pointed out their unscrupulous actions: "They covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage" (Micah 2:2). This behavior showcases how the people of Israel acted unjustly, coveting what belonged to others and resorting to theft and oppression. This was not righteous behavior for God's people.

Similarly, when it comes to the sin of swearing falsely, the prophet Jeremiah speaks to this issue: "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace" (Jeremiah 6:14). In this context, the people were making false promises and assurances, swearing by God's name without sincerity. They misled others, pretending all was well while ignoring the truth of their dire spiritual condition.

Both of these incidents serve as stark reminders of how Israel had drifted away from God's commandments and failed to uphold His standards of truth and justice. 

In verse 4, the vision concludes with a strong reminder of God's power and intent: "I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof." This verse illustrates that God's judgment is thorough and inevitable. The scroll will not only enter the homes of wrongdoers but will have a destructive effect, consuming both the materials of their houses and their very lives. The imagery shows that sin cannot be safe hidden away; it eventually brings consequences that affect not just the individual but their families and communities as well.

As we reflect on this vision from Zechariah 5:1-4, it serves as a wake-up call regarding Israel's actions and choices. The themes of accountability, the seriousness of sin, and the certainty of judgment resonate with them intently. God will not let sin flourish, or will he turn a "blind eye" to it, but he will deal with it. All of it, and this vision is a declaration of it. Both in Israel's past, that led them into captivity, and in the world to come, the end times.