Genesis 34 Observations

Genesis 34:19 Hamor was more honorable than all the house of his father… This is an example of generational iniquity. Not making excuses for him, but he did to Dinah what he saw modeled in his father’s house. He did not know the honorable ways of the Hebrews.

Genesis 35 Observations 

Genesis 35:10 The label is removed and replaced

John 12 Observations

John 12:3 Those who are most grateful to YAHUAH give Him all. YAHUSHA raised Mary’s brother, Lazarus, from the dead. Giving the costly ointment to YAHUSHA did not compare to what she and her family had received from him.  Dignity and pride did not matter to Mary in that moment. She willingly lowered herself to YAHUSHA’s feet and wiped them with her own glory. Yet, while serving the Master, she was subject to the malignment of her mission of honoring her Kinsman Redeemer.

When we truly do the will of the Father, often costing us much, the accuser will often attack. Judas was invited to the feast along with YAHUSHA. So, he wasn’t a stranger to anyone there. Yet, he was rude to the hosts. He ate their food, while rudely rebuking one of them. YAHUSHA said this about enemies:

And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. Matthew 10:36

Judas saw fault in Mary’s actions, but not his own. Beloved, if we are honest with ourselves, we must admit that we have been as Judas with a mote/beam imbalance. Hopefully, when we find ourselves in the way of Judas, we are quick to repent and with YAH’s help, move forward in wisdom and humility.

However, what do we do when we are on the receiving end of others’ misplaced zeal without knowledge toward us as we endeavor to give our treasured talents in service to YAHUAH? Mary, in this passage, gives us a solid example.

While doing what pleased YAHUSHA, the living Word spoke in her defense. There is no indication that Mary said one word to Judas during this encounter. She did not utter a single word in her own defense. Mary kept serving the Messiah with her treasures. What Mary did is difficult for our flesh to follow, but should we not do the same—to keep going, to keep serving?

Although Mary did not speak in her defense, YAHUSHA, the living Word spoke on her behalf. There is a saying that says that truth will always outlive a lie. YAHUSHA spoke truth to the situation on Mary’s behalf.

Then said YAHUSHA, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. John 12:7-8

Those that witnessed this scene, did not understand the truth that YAHUSHA spoke, but that truth did manifest in fullness and the truth about Mary’s sacrificial act both outlived Judas and continues to live today in YAH’s written Truth.

My point is this. Had Mary spoke up in her own defense, and tried to explain to a scorner, that her motives were pure, there would not have been any space for Truth to speak on her behalf.

When we try to take care of opposition ourselves, we  wonder why the situation does not work out in our favor and often gets worse or intensifies.

I am YAHUAH: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Isaiah 42:8

YAHUAH said in His Word that He does not share His glory with any other. When He delivers us in any capacity, His name is esteemed before the face of our enemies (I’m not necessarily speaking of flesh and blood enemies here).

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…. Psalms 23:5

Have you ever noticed in the book of Ezekiel how many times the Father says through the prophet:

…they shall know that I am YAHUAH. Ezekiel 12:16

YAHUAH wants mankind to be clear that He is the only living Elohim and that He alone is the mighty Deliverer. Therefore, when we use the arm of flesh (i.e. our mouth) to defend ourselves, YAHUAH backs off. He does not want His name associated with the arm of flesh and certainly not with any works of our flesh. When he withdraws His presence from our carnal wisdom, we begin to see that our own words of defense are inadequate.

Because Mary was quiet and did not defend herself, there was room for YAHUSHA to do so and for the Father to be glorified in the situation.

Another aspect of Mary’s non-response to Judas that I noticed is that had she spoke up in her own defense, she would undoubtedly had to stop or at the very least slow down her work of honoring the Messiah.

Mary kept quiet and kept serving. She stayed focused. Because she kept quiet, there was no mixture in that precious moment. Had she stopped to speak to Judas, her beautiful act of gratefulness, humility, and service would have been devalued. Emotions of anger, embarrassment, indignation, and/or humiliation would have infused the stench of the work of her flesh into her precious ointment.

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. James 3:11-12

Humility and gratefulness with which Mary washed YAHUSHA’s feet could not have flowed simultaneously with anger and resentment expressed in words to Judas.

Like Mary, we do not stop to speak, write, think our own words of defense. Though difficult, this is the covenantal standard for which we look to govern ourselves. We endeavor to stay focused on the race, the path that YAH established for us before we were born (Ps. 139:13-17). We stay focused on worshipping and honoring our Creator.

There is a revelation in another place in YAH’s Word that I believe is applicable to what we read about in John 12. This insight comes from Numbers 13 and Numbers 22-24. Here is the revelation:

When we are solidly walking in covenant with YAHUAH, endeavoring to do His will, the only way that the adversary can stop us is to get us to stop ourselves.

Judas’ giant words of accusation did not stop Mary. She kept serving in righteousness (which is key).

I invite you to comment below with additional observations.

Disclaimer

Also, please, please comment below if you see ANYTHING that is contrary to Scripture that I have presented in these Scripture Observations. I want Truth and when I see that I have made a mistake, I want to correct that. No chips on my shoulders here.

I also ask one thing, though. Please, please present your thoughts in the context of two or three Scripture references, not just one (see Deuteronomy 17:6; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1). One verse (especially one verse out of context) will not be received as evidence. I am just not one to interpret Scripture or accept other’s interpretation of Scripture apart from the written Word of YAH found in the whole counsel of His written Word.

I try my best to limit the use of the precursor words of “I think” or “I believe” without Scripture to back up my “I thinks” and “I believes.” Not only on this site, but be on the lookout anywhere else for excessive “I think” and “I believe” statements presented as Truth, with no Scriptural evidence to back up the statements.

The written Word of YAHUAH is the standard, the vanguard against deception which as you know is quite rampant these days..