Even the Crumbs
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
I used to think that being sure of something and hoping for something were exact opposites. After all, we hope for good weather on the weekend because we aren't sure if our plans will be rained out or not. You only say "I really hope there's chocolate ice cream" when you aren't sure if its actually in the freezer. No one says, "I hope I made an A on that test" when they are already absolutely certain that they scored one. We hope for things like a second chance, a miracle, or a different and unexpected outcome because those things aren't always certain in this life, and so we hope.
I used to think that being sure of something and hoping for something were exact opposites, but the Canaanite woman taught me something different. The story of the Canaanite woman in Mathew 15:21-28 used to be confusing to me, but now it has become one of my personal favorites.
To set the stage, Jesus did something unexpected by leading his disciples out of Jewish territory and into a Gentile area. From the very beginning of the story, Jesus was purposefully intentional about showing His love for all nations and not just Israel.
There he met a woman of unusual faith, who came to Jesus asking him to heal her demon-possessed daughter.
Jesus answered her strangely. At first, he did not answer at all. Then, he gave a seemingly out-of-character response. "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel," he said even though he clearly led the disciples into Gentile territory for a specific purpose...even this very purpose of meeting the Canaanite woman.
Her persistence impresses me. She bowed before him, worshipful. Then she pleaded, "Lord, help me."
Jesus continued, "It is not right to take the childrne's bread and feed it to the dogs."
Even at that, this faith-filled, confident woman did not back down. "Yes, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table." In saying this, she acknowledged that indeed she was a dog and that He was her master.
Jesus recognized her great faith and persistance and did what I believe He wanted to do all along: he granted her request.
A strange story, yes. But beautiful, too, when you dig a little deeper.
Jesus does not show favoritism to the Jews, nor does he hate the Gentiles. Even though His response to the woman makes it appear this way at first glance, he was up to something. Maybe he wanted us to learn that he doesn't just give handouts, but wants his people to demonstrate genuine faith through worship, persistence, and confidence in Him. Just like the Canaanite woman.
I love the Canaanite woman in this story because she grasped something that we tend to lose sight of - the infinite worth of Jesus. She fough just to lick the crumbs that fell off Jesus' table. Sometimes we trick ourselves into thinking that God owes us something for our faithfulness and obedience to him, and so we ask him for things in prayer with the expectation that he will bless us with a rich feast. And then here is this woman, kneeling before Jesus and saying, "Just a crumb, Lord. Please just a crumb." Oh how immeasurably valuable our Lord is, that we would fervently desire even a crumb of him with such passion. The Canaanite woman recognized this infinite worth of Jesus and would settle for nothing less.
And now I understand what Hebrews 11:1 means when the wroter says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
As believers in Jesus, we (just like the Canaanite woman) can be absolutely sure of what we hope for. This is why the Canaanite woman was so bold, confident, and persistent in asking Jesus for healing and grace. And she received it abundantly. She asked for crumbs, and she left with a full heart.
Perhaps that's also why Jesus responded to her so strangely. Maybe when God is silent or answers in a way that we don't expect, he is testing our faith to make sure that we genuinely believe in him, that we are sure of what we hope for like the Canaanite woman.
In Christ, we can be sure of what we hope for - and with absolute certainty. For we have a Savior whose crumbs are worth fighting for, yet he offers us a place at his banquet table.
I used to think that being sure of something and hoping for something were exact opposites. After all, we hope for good weather on the weekend because we aren't sure if our plans will be rained out or not. You only say "I really hope there's chocolate ice cream" when you aren't sure if its actually in the freezer. No one says, "I hope I made an A on that test" when they are already absolutely certain that they scored one. We hope for things like a second chance, a miracle, or a different and unexpected outcome because those things aren't always certain in this life, and so we hope.
I used to think that being sure of something and hoping for something were exact opposites, but the Canaanite woman taught me something different. The story of the Canaanite woman in Mathew 15:21-28 used to be confusing to me, but now it has become one of my personal favorites.
To set the stage, Jesus did something unexpected by leading his disciples out of Jewish territory and into a Gentile area. From the very beginning of the story, Jesus was purposefully intentional about showing His love for all nations and not just Israel.
There he met a woman of unusual faith, who came to Jesus asking him to heal her demon-possessed daughter.
Jesus answered her strangely. At first, he did not answer at all. Then, he gave a seemingly out-of-character response. "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel," he said even though he clearly led the disciples into Gentile territory for a specific purpose...even this very purpose of meeting the Canaanite woman.
Her persistence impresses me. She bowed before him, worshipful. Then she pleaded, "Lord, help me."
Jesus continued, "It is not right to take the childrne's bread and feed it to the dogs."
Even at that, this faith-filled, confident woman did not back down. "Yes, but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master's table." In saying this, she acknowledged that indeed she was a dog and that He was her master.
Jesus recognized her great faith and persistance and did what I believe He wanted to do all along: he granted her request.
A strange story, yes. But beautiful, too, when you dig a little deeper.
Jesus does not show favoritism to the Jews, nor does he hate the Gentiles. Even though His response to the woman makes it appear this way at first glance, he was up to something. Maybe he wanted us to learn that he doesn't just give handouts, but wants his people to demonstrate genuine faith through worship, persistence, and confidence in Him. Just like the Canaanite woman.
I love the Canaanite woman in this story because she grasped something that we tend to lose sight of - the infinite worth of Jesus. She fough just to lick the crumbs that fell off Jesus' table. Sometimes we trick ourselves into thinking that God owes us something for our faithfulness and obedience to him, and so we ask him for things in prayer with the expectation that he will bless us with a rich feast. And then here is this woman, kneeling before Jesus and saying, "Just a crumb, Lord. Please just a crumb." Oh how immeasurably valuable our Lord is, that we would fervently desire even a crumb of him with such passion. The Canaanite woman recognized this infinite worth of Jesus and would settle for nothing less.
And now I understand what Hebrews 11:1 means when the wroter says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
As believers in Jesus, we (just like the Canaanite woman) can be absolutely sure of what we hope for. This is why the Canaanite woman was so bold, confident, and persistent in asking Jesus for healing and grace. And she received it abundantly. She asked for crumbs, and she left with a full heart.
Perhaps that's also why Jesus responded to her so strangely. Maybe when God is silent or answers in a way that we don't expect, he is testing our faith to make sure that we genuinely believe in him, that we are sure of what we hope for like the Canaanite woman.
In Christ, we can be sure of what we hope for - and with absolute certainty. For we have a Savior whose crumbs are worth fighting for, yet he offers us a place at his banquet table.
Thank you, Ashli! This was great insight!
ReplyDeleteShirley