Word of Encouragement (5/13/2020)
Today, let’s reflect on the second characteristics of great faith: trusting Jesus to have mercy on us (and being persistent in our request).
What do we see in the Syrophoenician woman? She would not take no for an answer. Initially, Christ doesn’t even acknowledge her plea. But she doesn’t stop—to the point that the disciples ask Jesus to send her away. Then, Jesus indirectly dismisses her by reminding her that she was a Gentile woman. But she doesn’t stop asking Him to help her. Finally, Jesus tells her, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs” (Matt. 15:26). But she refuses to be turned away. She says, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (15:27).
That was a brilliant answer! Was that what Jesus was impressed by? Was He saying, “Oh, you got Me! For that, I will grant your wish”? Was this a contest of wisdom and wit and Jesus was conceding that He lost? Of course not! She was not heard because she was wise and brilliant. I dare say that her brilliant answer came, not from her intelligence or wisdom but ultimately from her humility. Because of her humility, she did not get offended by Jesus’ words. She actually agreed with Him. So, instead of leaving in anger, she stuck with Jesus. Instead of saying, “Who do you think you are? How dare you compare me to a dog!” she was able to plead with Him in the most effective way! “Yes, I’m but a dog, as You say, Lord. But don’t even dogs get to eat crumbs off the master’s table? I’m not asking for a full meal! I’m just asking for crumbs!”
Where did this humility come from? It came from recognizing the sheer magnitude of her problem—her daughter’s demon possession—and her total helplessness to deal with it. It also came from recognizing that only Jesus can set her daughter free! She knew she had nowhere and no one else to go to. We can characterize what she did as persistence, not taking no for an answer. But I hope we can see that this persistence was not about changing Jesus’ mind to do what He didn’t want to do or what was not the right thing to do. If Jesus didn’t want to help her, nothing she said or did could change that. Just because God doesn’t answer us right away doesn’t mean He is saying no. He may be testing our faith. He may want us to grow in our understanding of God. He may be waiting for the optimal time for our maximum benefit.
No persistence of ours can change God’s eternal decree and we should not even try to do so. The woman’s persistence was about throwing herself fully at the mercy of Jesus, willing to receive whatever Jesus is willing to grant in humility, but ultimately clinging to Jesus as her only hope.
What is great faith? Besides having a high regard for Christ, it is also to cling to Jesus as our only hope, not just as our last resort or as one of our insurance policies. This is something we can all do, right? We don't have to be someone special or great to be a person of great faith; it only takes a normal person to know and trust in a great God. So, as we come to know Christ better and better—how great and powerful He is—what we ask of Him would be more and more commensurate with His majesty and glory. May the Lord bless us with a great faith!
Have a blessed day!