1-2 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a flying scroll! And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll. Its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.” (i.e. About 30 ft by 15 ft) 3-4 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land. For everyone who steals shall be cleaned out according to what is on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cleaned out according to what is on the other side. I will send it out, declares the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of him who swears falsely by my name. And it shall remain in his house and consume it, both timber and stones.” Zechariah 5:1- 4 English Standard Version.

In the first chapter of this book in which God gave a series of visions to Zechariah we read the words: “The Lord Almighty told Zechariah to say to the people, 'I, the Lord, was very angry with your ancestors, but now I say to you, return to me, and I will return to you. Don’t be like your ancestors - long ago the prophets gave them my message, telling them not to live evil, sinful lives any longer. But they would not listen to me or obey me.'” (Zechariah 1:2-4) That suggests that the visions which followed, such as this one of a large flying scroll, were not for Zechariah only, but were meant to be told to the people who had returned to the land of Israel from exile. So what did God want those who had returned to know for sure? (vs 3-4)

They needed to turn from every form of dishonesty if they hoped to experience God's blessing in the new homes and lives they were building. The reason why Jerusalem and the original temple were destroyed was because people had built their lives on stealing and dishonesty. Long before that destruction came the prophet Jeremiah had spoken God's warning, saying: “Do you think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, 'We are safe!' - only to go right back to all those evils again? Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there.” (Jeremiah 7:9-11)

Did you notice that 'stealing' was placed first in the list of things that God saw as evil? And did you notice that 'telling lies' was regarded as wicked as adultery and murder. In the visions which the apostle John recorded in the New Testament book called Revelation, we read how God says: “As for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable; as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

Truth and honesty are important to God. Stealing and lying, and every form of dishonesty, were brought into the world by Satan. It was by treating those things lightly that the Israelites fell out of God's favour and were handed over to their enemies for punishment. Yet we live in days when lying and theft are common, even amongst those who govern nations and chart the course of the world. What was it about the scroll that Zechariah saw that should teach us how important this message was for the people, and for us?

I would say, firstly, because it was so large. A scroll some 30 by 15 feet is hardly something that people would miss! It was like a huge billboard. Secondly, because it was announcing a curse. The houses of those who disregarded its message would be consumed. (Just as John warns us in Revelation). And, thirdly, because it was written on both sides. This was not a flying 'meme'. It was a weighty document of God's warnings. When John saw Jesus Christ in the vision God gave to him, he says of Jesus: “I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.” (Revelation 5:1)

God has given something even greater than the scroll Zechariah saw. He has given us His full message recorded in the Bible. And we are told that “The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Happy the soul who takes to heart what’s written in that scroll.