A Sabbath Rest…
Editor’s Note:During the month of October, I have taken what I want to call a Sabbath Rest. It did not start out that way, but after a few days off I realized that I needed to take some time away from writing my daily posts. We are soliciting your prayers that the posts we offer in the future will be a blessing to the readers.
In Matthew 15 we read about Jesus venturing into Tyre and Sidon where a woman from Canaan came to seek Him. Her daughter had demon possession and had caused her much anguish. Of course there were no mental health facilities in that day, nor were there prescribed medicines to medicate people with mental issues. For those families who had their loved ones suffering from mental illness it was a 24/7/365 a year situation they were dealing with.
Now Jesus went into this Gentile area to get some space from his Jewish critics. No doubt, He needed a break. He was not looking for another assignment, or was He?
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” Matthew 15:21-24 (NIV)
Clearly Jesus made it plain that He had not come to do ministry with the Gentiles. And His disciples and their lack of compassion was also evident. Then a surprising thing happened:
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Matthew 15:25-28 (NIV)
You would think after Jesus was so blatant about His assignment in the 24th verse that would have been enough for the woman. But, no she persisted in beseeching His help. Jesus then tests her faith all the more by reminding her that He came to the lost sheep of Israel. Like a woman who was in touch with God, she replied that even though that was true, even the dogs eat the crumbs from the master’s table!
Jesus had to acknowledge her faith! And because of that faith she went away with the report that her daughter was healed! Every time I think of this story, I think of those times when I want to give ups because there is no instant answer to my prayers – what if she had given up by Jesus first reply? Maybe we can learn a lesson from this woman of Canaan.
Maria