Have your words ever been taken out of context? What about the Bible, ever known someone to grab a scripture and twist it to fit his or her needs? Have you done it yourself?
We should always read the before scriptures and after in our efforts to understand the true meaning of the Word.
Like Matthew 15: 21-28; with a quick read, those scriptures seem like Jesus considered other people, those other than of the Jewish descent to be "dogs".
So taken out of context, Jesus looked like he didn’t care for the feelings of this Gentile, or Canaanite woman. But let’s look at them together –
"When Jesus then left Galilee, he went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David."
Right away I noticed she appealed to his Jewish roots...let’s move on.
The woman said, "For my daughter has a demon in her, and it is severely tormenting her."
But Jesus gave her no reply - not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. "Tell her to leave," they said. "She is bothering us with all her begging."
Then he said to the woman, "I was sent only to help the people of Israel - God’s lost sheep – not the Gentiles.”
If you stop right there it sounds like Jesus is leaving her out, but do not stop – get the entire meaning by moving on...because that did not stop her...she moved on...
"She came and worshiped him and pleaded again, "Lord, help me!" He responded with, "It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs."
She replied, "Yes, Lord, but even dogs are permitted to eat crumbs that fall beneath their master’s table."
Jesus said to her, "Woman, your faith is great. Your request is granted” ...and her daughter was instantly healed.So this woman was an outsider, she pushed through, and did not give up on her request. She did not become complacent, as we sometimes do in coming to the Lord, but rather she pleaded...and pleaded...
And what appeared like Jesus refusing to answer her, at first glance – it seems that he was saying what he has is for only the Jews; but this is not the case.
Do we cry out for Jesus mercy, as undeserving people, in dire need of our Savior’s love? This woman wouldn’t be turned away, she did not deserve his mercy but needed it...yes, needed it more than anything.
If she couldn’t get the bread, she would take his crumbs, which is enough – enough – she knew the crumbs he could give, that life – his life was she needed. So how bad to you desire to hear from God? Are you relentless in your pursuits? If you do not hear from God by bedtime tonight, will you let up on the prayer? Or are you looking for the “crumbs” the little pieces of him in your day, your activities and in your life?
This Canaanite woman is a symbol for me, I have no natural claim upon God’s favor and yet, his gift stands for the free, unmerited grace he gives. And yes, miracles are signs, they show God’s power to rebuke demons, like that of the Canaanite woman’s daughter, and of course the best miracle of all is Jesus himself.
My advice is to keep on asking, don’t let up, look for his favor, his direction and his answer. Sometimes, it might come in the form of a miracle, or a new way of approaching a situation; but always his ways are higher than ours, his pause might be the way he gets us focused on him.
I know I’ll take any crumb; he throws my way – because it will always be enough!
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