GREAT IS YOUR FAITH !
And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying over us." He answered, "I am sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. (Matthew 15:22-28)
And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and cried, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely possessed by a demon." (vs. 22)
Did the scriptures not state in Matthew 7:7-11:
"Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
Also, in Isaiah 61:1-3:
"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favour, and the day of the vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion - to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit;....."
The above statements are enough to wet anyone's appetite. They are enough to spur an average person - be it believer or non-believer - into looking up to the Lord for help. They are enough to raise one's hopes and expectations. They are capable of making one approach the Lord with full assurance of response from him. But surprisingly,
But he did not answer her a word. (vs.23)
He did not? But how come? Thought the 'mission statement' of the Lord's ministry (that was stated earlier in Isaiah 61:1-3) incorporates individuals who find themselves in situation like that of the Canaanite woman? The 'mission statement' alone provides reasonable and justifiable grounds for her to approach him for help. Her expectation is high as she cried to Jesus. And what was the initial reaction from the Lord? He simply ignored her as though she is a non-entity. Supposing the lady had considered Jesus' conduct as ignominious? How good does it feel when one approaches the Lord in prayer or petition, and all He seems to be doing is simply ignoring one's cries and pleas?
And his disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is crying over us." (vs.23)
For someone whose plea was not dignified with attention, the disciples' attitude and remarks is the last thing that is needed. It is like insult upon injury. One would expect the disciples to intervene on her behalf. But on the contrary, they were the ones providing the discouragement. Their remark was capable of leaving the following impressions: The woman was being demeaned through her being portrayed as a cry-baby. She was unwanted. The impression was capable of making her feel worthless.
He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." (vs.24)
This statement suggests discrimination and segregation. It further reinforces the impression that is probably left on the woman. More or less, she was being portrayed and treated like a 'foreigner.' A 'stranger.' An 'outsider.' By now, she should be appalled by and disappointed at the attitude of Jesus and his disciples. An angry outburst from her at this point would have been understandable and justified.
But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." (vs.25)
Rather than entertain anger, she exercised patience and humility. She knew she was at the mercy of the Lord. Where else could she get help anyway if not from the Lord? She could have given in to her natural impulse, and let go of her emotion. But she clung to him tenaciously still. Rather than walking away in rage, she moved closer to the Lord and knelt before him. She did not give up pleading even in the face of degradation and provocation.
And he answered, "It is not fair to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." (vs. 26)
What?! An analogy was actually drawn between her and dogs?! She was not even worth being considered a child? Not even worthy to be considered as human being? That's what she gets after all she had been through thus far? How 'mean' and 'nonchalant' could Jesus get, one may think. At that point, an average human will explode with rage. If she had yielded herself to vituperative remarks that probably formed in her mind, she might have sound like this: 'Oh yeah? So this is the kind of person you are. I thought they said you are nice and caring. I should have known better. Just who do you think you are. You think you are so important, don't you? Who are you? It's not your fault. Why did I come to you in the first place?........" She neither got annoyed nor get even. Rather, she humbled herself even more.
She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." (vs. 27)
What a woman! One may wonder why Jesus resorted to the kind of attitude portrayed. The attitude and conduct outlined is not characteristic of the Lord's pattern of behaviour. The Lord is not known to be that kind of person. Why then did he make the woman go through the undesirable experience?
Then Jesus answered her, "O woman, great is your faith!" (vs. 28)
So that's it. The woman's faith was being tested! Good thing she didn't flinch. Should have known that the Lord knows what he was doing. He always know what He is doing.
"For I know the plans I have towards thee; the plan of good and not of evil, to give you an expected end."
"The just shall live by faith."
And to think the woman was beginning to look like laughing stock not only to others, but also to herself. Eventually, didn't she get what she desired?
Be it done for you as you desire." And her daughter was healed instantly. (vs. 28)
"The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come......." (II Peter 3:9-10)
More often than not, in the course of our relationship with the LORD, we find ourselves in the shoes of the Canaanite woman. At times, it seems as though He is hiding His face from us. Some times, it may seem as though He has turned His back on us. At times, we may feel estranged by Him. Often times, we may feel that our status as God's children needs to be reconsidered. When circumstances make us feel this way, our mind becomes vulnerable to all sorts of thoughts and opinion about the Lord and ourselves. We may feel like getting angry at the Lord or doing something to get back at him. Dear friend, avoid the temptation to backslide. Avoid the temptation to blaspheme. Problems don't get solved that way, but they can get worsened.
The Lord may make you go through some undesirable experiences despite your continual faithfulness to Him. May the good Lord give us the much-needed grace to persevere. Keep in mind, tough times don't last, tough people do. Your faith may be getting tested. If you do not shift your focus from Him, if you maintain a humble and patient disposition, you will be glad at the kind of ending your story will have.
It takes more than sheer determination to be humble and patient. Such virtues are usually fostered through the work of God's Spirit.
"And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:9-13)
As we go through some of the experiences (which we would prefer to be left out of), it provides opportunity for the LORD to build up our faith and trust in Him. This makes us more effective instruments in His kingdom.
God bless
Yours
'Kunle Majek'
H I A F E M
Of impact, quality and excellence
That's the Spirit!
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