The other side of the picture meets us as we read chapter 5. In a sixth vision the prophet saw a flying “roll”; symbolically representing the law, extending its authority over all the earth, and bringing with it a curse. The two sins specified—stealing and swearing—both exceedingly common, represent sin against man and against God. The fact that God acts in grace does not mean that there is any condonation of sin, on which the curse lies. And as Galatians 3:10 tells us, “As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse.” A proper sense of this only enhances our wonder and appreciation of the grace of God.
The second part of this vision reveals what had to take place in view of this curse. An ephah was the common measure of trade and commerce, and a woman is several times used in Scripture as a symbol of a system; and systemized idolatry, linked with profitable business had lain at the root of the evils that had led to the captivity out of which the remnant had come; and the land of Shinar where Babylon was situated, had been the original home and hotbed of all idolatry. It was this that had brought the curse upon the forefathers of the people. The whole system of this idolatrous evil had to be deported to its own base.
Now this is what in figure seems to be depicted here. It was not so much a personal matter, as presented in the cleansing of Joshua in chapter 3, but a national cleansing from the sin of idolatry. This did come to pass historically, as we know, and from about that time the Jews have not turned aside to the idols of the nations. If Matthew 12:43-45 be read, we see how our Lord made reference to this act, and yet predicted how ultimately they will be dominated by this sin in an intensified form. But for the time being they were delivered.
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