“Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’ But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”—Matthew 15:21–28 (NKJV)
I love the word behold. It’s a word that holds substantial weight. Many times in Scripture, we unknowingly read right past a word like this, because it’s foreign to us. However, the more we study the Word, the more we realize every single word in the Bible matters. “Behold” highlights the importance of what’s to follow and encourages readers to pay close attention to something significant and to reflect on its meaning. The Lord has called us to really observe this woman of faith and learn from her example.
One of the first observations that jumps off the page is she’s a persistent, interceding mom of a prodigal child. Her child’s pain and anguish has become her own. She carries the heaviness of a heart that’s deeply broken. I’m also a mom of a prodigal. Honestly, it’s difficult praying the same prayers, crying and begging for my son’s soul year after year, wanting nothing more than to see him in heaven one day. Presumably, she wrestled with the fact that there’s literally nothing she can do to fix this. Her persistence is absolutely inspiring. She’s pursuing after Christ with desperation and belief that HE is her ONLY remedy.
There’s a lot of praying parents out there who can genuinely empathize with this woman’s plight. But be encouraged, as Psalm 34:18 (NIV) says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Here’s another observation that stands out: “But He answered her not a word.” His silence didn’t silence her. She meets His silence with worship. “She came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” With every testimony there’s a test. The good news is there will always be spiritual fruit when we endure through our test. Her faith stood the test of silence (a tremendously hard test). Her sheer love for her daughter, and her faith in Jesus, motivates her to overcome all perceived obstacles.
She has an immense view of Jesus. “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” This pagan woman living in a pagan land uses the Messianic title of Jesus. Jesus’ reputation to heal the sick, deliver the demon possessed, raise the dead, and seek after the lost had spread like wildfire throughout this region. She believes He’s the prophesied Messiah of the Jewish people. His own people are struggling to come to faith, but not her. This makes me question, “How big is our own view of Christ?”
“Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” In her pursuit of Him in this encounter, she’s basically saying, “Yes, I know Your mission is to Israel first, but even Your crumbs are enough for me because I know who You are! My faith in Your ability is so immeasurable that just a morsel of Your mercy and power will completely transform my circumstance. You’re my Master, there’s hope in YOU.”
“’O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” What an honorable mention! There are only two instances when Jesus calls out people for their great faith: the Roman Centurion and this woman from Canaan. We’re called to this kind of faith—faith so earth shattering that nothing stands in the way of pursuing Him, intimately knowing Him, worshiping Him, and trusting in His abilities.
Pause: Are you motivated to overcome all perceived hindrances to seek after and worship the Lord?
Practice: If you’re in a season where it seems like answers to prayers are far off, please don’t lose heart. Remember the faith of this persistence Canaanite woman and keep pursuing the Lord.
Pray: Lord God, please help me see Your test as an invitation to spiritual growth. Please bless my persistence and endurance. When my prayers seem unheard, I know deep down You hear every word I whisper in the depths of my soul. I know You’re close to me when I’m brokenhearted, and You save me when my spirit is crushed. My faith, like the Canaanite woman, in Your ability is so immeasurable that just a morsel of Your mercy and power will completely transform my circumstance. Amen.
