Great Faith, Great Persistence, Great Blessing

I love my grandchildren and I am fascinated by how persistent they are in getting me to give them what they want. They will look at me so lovingly or cry out so emotionally, all in full expectation that I will respond affirmatively to their pleas. In Matthew 15:21-28, a Canaanite woman pleads with Jesus to heal her daughter. In great persistence, she shows great faith that Jesus will help her, and Jesus rewards her faith with a great blessing. I pray that you would have great faith in a great God who hears your persistent prayers, believing in Him to answer with a divine blessing that will address your deepest need. Amen

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 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.”  (Matt. 15:21-22) Jesus journeyed into gentile territory. There He was approached by a Canaanite woman.  It should be noted that the people of Canaan were ancient enemies of Israel.   It is obvious that she knew who Jesus was, referring to Him as “Lord, Son of David”, and she had faith that He had the power to heal her daughter and drive out the demon that had possessed her.  

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.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”  (Matt. 15:23-27) Jesus did not respond to the Canaanite woman’s plea.  But His disciples urged Jesus to grant her plea and send her away because she was so persistent in following them and crying out.  Jesus then responded to His disciples in her hearing, that she was not a part of His mission (“I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel”).  Refusing to give up, the woman knelt at Jesus’ feet in a posture of worship, with a prayer of petition (“Lord, help me!”). 

Again, Jesus refused her plea, reiterating that it would not be right to give to a gentile the blessing that was meant for Israel.  Yet this woman’s faith was such that she knew even as unworthy as she was, a little bit of mercy from Jesus would to give her daughter the healing that she so desperately needed. 

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. (Matt. 15:28) Jesus had tested this woman’s faith and belief in Jesus to heal her daughter.  And He found it to be greater than many in Israel.  He declared her to be a woman of great faith and because of that, He healed her daughter at that very moment.

What is it that you are in need of God to do?  He wants you to come near to Him and He will come near to you (James 4:8).  He wants you to have faith in who He is and in His power to change your circumstance (Hebrews 11:6).  And He wants you to persist in seeking Him and trusting Him (Jer. 29:13).  Some saw this Canaanite woman as unworthy of God’s blessing, because her heritage made her an enemy of Israel and God. Even she compared herself metaphorically to a dog waiting for crumbs from the table of the family of Israel. But her story demonstrates that no matter how unworthy you may seem to yourself or others, God already knows exactly who you are and what your past is.  And in spite of that, He will not ignore anyone who comes to Him in great faith and with great persistence. He still answers those who do so with great blessings. 

Blessings, Rev. Glenn

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” ~ Hebrews 11:6