Sometimes we come across scriptures that give us a moment’s pause when we first read them, as we try to understand exactly what was happening to cause the results that we see laid out before us. Such was the case for me with the story of the Canaanite woman. Parables such as this, often, for me at least, require much more study in order to come to accurate conclusions about what actually was taking place.
The thing that gave me pause, when I first read it, is the Lord’s response to her. Here was Jesus going about healing and encouraging and teaching, and then suddenly here was this same Jesus calling a woman a “dog”? Wow! Why did He respond that way?
But just as in any reading of the scripture, it is best not to get hung up on a “part” of the text without considering “all” that the text has to say. So, let us consider, as proper bible sleuths, ALL that we see here, verse by verse:
1) The woman was a Canaanite. The Canaanites were a cursed nation. But as in every nation, God has a remnant that know Him, such was this woman it appears. For look at the name that she called Him: “O Lord, thou son of David”. There was a confession in that statement, a confession that said, “I believe that you are who you say you are.”
2) The disciples were vexed by her…she was an “alien” (not a Jew…and remember Jesus had told the disciples to go only to the Jews, a point which He reiterates in this scripture saying He was sent only to the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”); she was crying loudly and non-stop apparently; and was altogether a bit of a “nuisance” to the disciples. All of which shows us how “fleshly” the disciples were still operating at that time. They had not yet been filled with the Holy Spirit as Jesus was. They were still concerned about their own comfort, over the “cries” of this woman.
3) But the woman persisted and “worshipped” Him, saying “Lord, help me.” The scripture seems to be saying that she is worshipping Jesus by simply asking for His help. [I really must go chase a rabbit here: Does that mean our prayers are a form of worship to God? I believe it does. After all, the heathens prayed to the “gods” they worshipped asking for their help. When we pray to God asking for His help, we are worshipping Him. So what does that say for us when we are not praying? Who are we worshipping with our lack of prayer? End of the rabbit chase, back to the Canaanite woman.] This is further proof or confession of her “faith” in Who He is. Remember part of our study is that before we learn to pray we must first know WHO it is we are praying to? Well, this woman KNEW WHO it was she was crying out to, as evidenced by her words. But it is her persistence which follows that brings to her a very high recommendation from the Lord.
4) What followed her cry for help was the “part” that “vexed” me. I couldn’t understand it at first. Until I came to view it as a “test” of her faith. Even a chastening of sorts, being that she is one of the cursed Canaanites. For God also tests us; God also chastens us. Neither testing nor chastening are “pleasant” to us. Surely, Jesus’ response was not “pleasant” to her ears either. Yet, He spoke the truth. But we don’t always want to hear the truth. We are not always honest enough with ourselves to acknowledge the truth. But the Canaanite woman agreed with Him! Do we? Even when He is judging us, chastening us, correcting us? Do we turn from Him because we cannot bear the chastening or the test?
5) Even though all that He spoke was true, and she knew it was true, for she agreed with Him, YET her response was to “hold on” to her hope in Him to receive just a mere crumb of His mercy. His mercy was so GREAT that even a crumb would have healed her daughter. She knew this. Her hope was in Him, in Who He was (and is) as a merciful Lord and Savior. She knew HOW MERCIFUL He was. The reports of His miraculous deeds and great compassion must have gone out even as far as her part of the country.
6) And she was humble. She did not recoil in self-righteous anger at His response to her. She did not slink off in utter dejection and depression. She humbly agreed with Him. And then she said (as did the prodigal son) that being that “spiritual” dog, still she desired only to have the crumbs that fell under her “Master’s” table. She acknowledged that she was His, and He was her Master. She acknowledged that she was a true child of Abraham’s seed, not physically, but spiritually. In a sense, she stated her faith, even as did Job “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Matthew Henry had this to say about this woman's faith: "The greatness of faith consists much in a resolute adherence to Jesus Christ as an all-sufficient Saviour, even in the face of discouragements; to love Him, as a Friend, even then when He seems to come forth against us as an Enemy. This is great faith!"
7) And finally, because it was for her daughter, she held onto hope, she held out for the crumbs, she persisted in receiving healing for her child. She would not stop until she received. She would trouble the disciples no matter what they thought of her, she would stand humbly but firmly before the Lord Himself, and she would expect a miracle from Him because she trusted in His mercy and compassion.
8) “And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” She asked most fervently, she persisted, she patiently endured the chastening, she persisted some more, and almost immediately she received what she greatly desired of Him.
“O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.” Let us learn much from her example.
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