Zechariah 5:5-11
"the woman in the basket"
This vision begins with Zechariah seeing a large measuring basket. Upon inquiring about it, he is answered by the angel with him that it is the sin of the people in all the land. The angel then showed Zechariah the contents of the basket: a woman. The angel called her wickedness and shoved her back in the basket, replacing the lead cover (lead because it's heavy and therefore difficult to push up for escaping?) (also, apparently the hebrew for wickedness is feminine... talk about sins of the mother).
The basket was then carried off by two angels, who also resembled women... maybe there's a connection there. The basket, according to the angel, was being carried to Babylonia, where a house for this basket will be built. One commentator states that this signified the removal of sins from Israel to Babylon, making Israel fitting for God's rule. I think we can take this one step further. what is this Israel that will be ruled by God? The kingdom at the end of time in which all who believe in Christ and are saved live. Also, if Babylon is the nation to which the sin is sent (note, Babylon is also the enemy which has removed the Israelites) could that not represent the realm to which sinners are sent as punishment?
could this not be showing God setting a place aside for sin; a place which is hated, unloved by God's people and unholy? If sin is sent to this place, then all who sin, because of their sin, are sent there too... unless somehow their connection to sin is broken. How is this possible? through the death and resurrection of Christ.
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