Faith of a Great Woman
Most of us believe in faith, but very few of us ever achieve the faith that brings us to where God really wants us to be in our spiritual life. I want to share with you a scripture in the Bible that I believe shows uncommon, outstanding faith that many of us want but will never achieve. We find it in the book of Matthew in the 15th Chapter, verses 21-28. Not as my usual writing, but I want to take each verse in it’s context the way I perceive it through the Holy Spirit. I pray as I write that God will reveal the supernatural faith of this woman to you.
Verse 21: “Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coast of Tyre and Sidon.” It is not relative clear whether Christ left the land of the Jews, but in this one instance I believe it possible that he did in fact for a certain reason, that we will discover later.
Verse 22: “ And behold, a woman of Canaan came out to the same coast, and cried unto him saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil”. This woman was a Canaanite, not a Jew, the state of this woman in it’s proper emblem is a sinner. Several things I admire about this woman is that she immediately say’s “Have mercy on me, prayer for penitent! She was humble, full of faith, modest, respectful relying only on the mercy of God! How quick she was to realize who Christ really was!!!!!!!”
Verse 23: “ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.” Christ took time to consider her faith and gave her the opportunity to exercise it.
Verse 24: “ But he answered and said, I am not sent but into the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. At this time his divine appointment was to preach the Gospel to the Jews.
Verse 25: “Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord help me”. I believe she was saying Lord help me, let me share in the deliverance afforded to Israel.
Verse 26: “But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs”. I believe that the children’s bread in this case was very possibly the salvation that was supposed for the Jewish people, termed the children of the kingdom. Christ was not declaring this woman to be a direct dog. The term or word that was used, in ancient transcripts refers to little dogs or house pets.
Verse27: “And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from the master’s table.” I do not believe that she desired what was provided for these highly favored children, only what they leave. A healing from the Almighty Power for her daughter was all that she wished for and this would not lessen the provision made for the Jews. What courage and perseverance she showed of faith not found in today’s society.
Verse28: “Then Jesus answered and said unto her, even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” To persevere in true faith is to trust God in all circumstances and remain true to him, even when you are in great trouble and He does not seem to answer or to care.
