BLESSING FOR A SAYING -- Tomorrow:
"Then He said to her, ‘FOR THIS SAYING go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter.' And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed." (Mark 7:29-30, NKJV)
Matthew and Mark record the remarkable incident of a woman who received an unusual blessing from the Lord, even though she was not a Jew. Matthew refers to her as "a woman of Canaan," or a "Canaanite woman" (Matt 15:22, NASB). Mark says she "was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation" (Mk 7:26). This made her from the country of Syria, part of Phenicia–hence the description Syrophenician. Here was a woman from a heathen nation, who had not apparently been instructed in the Law and the Prophets. Certainly, from a human point of view, an unsuitable candidate for the blessing of the Lord.
Matthew provides an additional detail about this incident. Coming out of her heathen homeland, she pursued Jesus, crying out, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." But Jesus "answered her not a word," seemingly ignoring her fervent request. However, this did not discourage the woman. Christ's disciples became irritated with her cries, finally requesting of the Master, "Send her away; for she crieth after us." Jesus responded, "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel," thereby trying the faith of the woman (Matt 15:22-24). Matthew says that at this point the woman came "and worshiped Him, saying, Lord, help me" (v 25). It is at this point that Mark takes up the narrative.
Mark says "she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter," fervently pleading with the Savior. Then Jesus tested her faith once again. "Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs" (Mk 7:27). Everything seemed to justify the conclusion that this was not the time for her daughter to be healed – that the Lord had other priorities. Unbelief would have come to such a conclusion and ceased to make the request. But faith does not reason in this manner. It, and it alone, is the victory that overcomes tests as well as the world (1 John 5:4).
The Canaanite woman replied, "Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs" (Mk 7:28). Her "YES" was a strong affirmation, acknowledging the truth of what Jesus said. Yet, she did not see her request as contradicting what the Lord had affirmed. She was not asking for a superior favor, or for the neglect of the ancient people. She saw her request as but a small thing when compared to His ministry to Israel.
Confirming that our expressions have an immediate bearing upon what we receive from the Lord, Jesus answered, "FOR THIS SAYING go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter." Matthew adds, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt" (Matt 15:28). She received what she wanted BECAUSE OF WHAT SHE SAID! Further, her faith compelled her to speak in this discerning and effective way. From "that very hour," her daughter was healed. It was done according to the woman's faith, and because of what her faith moved her to say. Upon returning to "her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed." What a day of blessing for her!
Do you have a deep desire you have been expressing to the Lord? And does it seem that He is ignoring you, not answering a word? Learn from this unnamed woman to not faint or be discouraged in your prayers! Does a sense of unworthiness grip your heart, as you see yourself undeserving of the blessing you seek? Ponder the approach of this woman of faith, who saw her request as obtaining crumbs – something small, indeed, as compared to the greater ministry of the Lord. Do not think Divine silence means your plea is denied. Nor, indeed, should you imagine that greater Divine involvements exclude you from the blessing. Think as this woman did.
Frame your petition in words the Father will honor. Acknowledge the truth of your unworthiness, and the inferiority of what you seek compared with the greater work of Jesus. Believe the Lord hears such pleas, as confirmed by this blessed woman.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, and in accordance with Your own gracious nature, teach me the holy work of importunity!