And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. (vv 7-8)
I do not know all that is pictured in this book of prophecy, and even what imagery I see might be only partially correct, but give me grace as I share what I took away from this short chapter.
The ephah was a basket used for measuring grain, and trapped inside, underneath a weight of lead was a woman who signified the wickedness of the nation. Pastor has reminded us so often that "sin will take you farther than you wanted to go, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to pay."
Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. (v 9)
Not only will sin trap you (see John 8:34, 2 Peter 2:19), but it will also take you away (see 2 Corinthians 6:14, 2 Peter 2:17). Through these prophets the message should be abundantly clear... "lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame." Hebrews 12:1-2
Jason Ouellette
