The Faith of a Canaanite
It has been a while since I last posted. Admittedly, I am going through a bit of a dry period spiritually speaking. I really haven't felt the Lord speaking to me much personally lately. I have been struggling to find my place at a church home in North Carolina and feel no closer to finding a church home than when I moved here. My quiet times lately have been consistent, but God seems quiet to me lately. Maybe that is why this passage in Matthew 15:21-28 was something that I noticed.
In this passage, a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus and asks and begs for healing for her daughter. A Canaanite was a person who lived in the region before the Jewish people lived there. To her initial requests, it says in verse 23 "Jesus did not answer a word." It seemed clear to the disciples Jesus didn't want to answer her so they tell Jesus that he should send her away because she is bothering them. Great compassion on their part. Then Jesus says something that sounds really cold coming from him "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." verse 24.
I also noticed that there are several periods in this chapter and others where there are large groups of people who are healed of various diseases. Just look in places like Matthew 15:31 or 14:35-36. Word had spread to this Canaanite woman what Jesus had been doing and yet for some reason she doesn't bring the daughter to Jesus, but simply goes to Jesus herself.
And you notice in this miracle Jesus does not go to where the Canaanite woman's child is. Much like some of the other miracles that Jesus does they never meet eye to eye. This woman believes that Jesus can heal her daughter without ever seeing her. And instead of being insulted by Jesus words, she is persistent. She replies with humility to Jesus words saying "even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Words of great faith, which Jesus then acknowledges and honors.
This is why this story is even mentioned in Scripture. Because it highlights the importance of this kind of faith. This woman needs to turn around and travel back to her daughter by faith believing that Jesus' words had happened. And we learn that it says "her daughter was healed from that very hour." I believe this is why Jesus was silent during the early part of this interaction. He knew this lady and knew that she would not give up easily. This is true for us as well because there are times when requests are made and it appears that God is silent. We should learn from this that God honors persistent, bold, humble faith.
In this passage, a Canaanite woman comes to Jesus and asks and begs for healing for her daughter. A Canaanite was a person who lived in the region before the Jewish people lived there. To her initial requests, it says in verse 23 "Jesus did not answer a word." It seemed clear to the disciples Jesus didn't want to answer her so they tell Jesus that he should send her away because she is bothering them. Great compassion on their part. Then Jesus says something that sounds really cold coming from him "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." verse 24.
I also noticed that there are several periods in this chapter and others where there are large groups of people who are healed of various diseases. Just look in places like Matthew 15:31 or 14:35-36. Word had spread to this Canaanite woman what Jesus had been doing and yet for some reason she doesn't bring the daughter to Jesus, but simply goes to Jesus herself.
And you notice in this miracle Jesus does not go to where the Canaanite woman's child is. Much like some of the other miracles that Jesus does they never meet eye to eye. This woman believes that Jesus can heal her daughter without ever seeing her. And instead of being insulted by Jesus words, she is persistent. She replies with humility to Jesus words saying "even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Words of great faith, which Jesus then acknowledges and honors.
This is why this story is even mentioned in Scripture. Because it highlights the importance of this kind of faith. This woman needs to turn around and travel back to her daughter by faith believing that Jesus' words had happened. And we learn that it says "her daughter was healed from that very hour." I believe this is why Jesus was silent during the early part of this interaction. He knew this lady and knew that she would not give up easily. This is true for us as well because there are times when requests are made and it appears that God is silent. We should learn from this that God honors persistent, bold, humble faith.
