Woman of Faith (The Canaanite Woman)

Sep18

woman_of_faith_by_arvhee

This is the third post of “Woman of Faith” The last posts is based on the book of Esther and Sarah. This evening I chose unknown woman figure from Canaanite. I hope the readers do not get bored to read the post of “Woman of Faith”

“Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me” (Matthew 15:25)

My dear reader, we don’t know the name of this Canaanite woman. She is not famous as Esther, Sarah, or another woman figure in the Bible. But when I read her short story I really impressed and in awe to her. Why? Let’s we take a look.

She comes to Jesus for healing her daughter. When she came to Jesus she faces three obstacles: Silence, saints, and insult. When she first begged Jesus’ mercy, Jesus doesn’t answer her word.”But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.” (Verse 23) But this fact does not discourage this woman. Have we ever praying and it seems God doesn’t answer our prayer? By this time, many people quit going to church because someone in the church says something that offends them. In verse 23, the disciples are representative and founders of the first church. They not just offend this woman, even ordered her to go away! Once again, though she got unpleasant treat this could not deter her.

Finally, Jesus calls her a dog. “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.”  (Verse 26) This is a depiction that we are really not worthy to receive His mercy. Maybe we are shocked with Jesus’ answer. But this Canaanite woman is not! She knew she did not deserve to receive Jesus’ favor. She said: “Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (Verse 27)

After this testing, Jesus proclaims, “Great is thy faith” The greatest thing that can be said about us is not that we are worthy or not to receive His mercy, but that we have a great faith! This woman shows an absolute trust in, and reverence for, Jesus. She came to Jesus, she worshipped Him, and she trusted Him: “Lord, help me” with her great and unwavering faith she was able to pass all obstacles to kneel at the feet of Jesus and begs His mercy.

My dear lovely friends, I will end this post with questions. How big is our faith, now? Whether we have faith as the Canaanite woman? Whether we’re having so many obstacles that can weaken our faith? Together, let’s us ponder this story and remember what God said to us: “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20) Amen.

Karina

Photo art work by Ar Vhee http://metarvheenoia.wordpress.com

Note: Thank you so much for Ar Vhee who willing to fulfill my request to design photo illustration for my post “Woman of Faith”

22 thoughts on “Woman of Faith (The Canaanite Woman)”

  1. Perhaps the insult wasn’t so much an insult as it was a challenge to her faith. The word translated “dogs” doesn’t refer to the dangerous packs of dogs who roamed around, but to little dogs (puppies) who might have been in the house and begged at the dinner table. The “children” represent the nation of Israel (God’s chosen people) and the “dogs” represent Gentiles, who had no part in the Mosaic Covenant. She was up to the challenge: “Yes, Lord, but even the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master’s table.”
    There aren’t many who are willing to settle for “crumbs” because they think they’re better than that, but I tell you, a crumb from the Master’s table is better than all the feasts this world has to offer.

    Reply

    • Once again thank you so much your such great comment. Thank you for giving me another thought of my post. Really appreciate it 🙂 I have learned so much from your thought. Many blessing to you.

      Reply

  2. Karina, I have always loved this passage. I am grateful for just a crumb for the Lord, but thankfully he blesses us with a feast that He is preparing for us one day! Blessings and there is no way I am getting bored with your series—love it!

    Reply

    • Dear Rebeca
      I really do agree with you. We all should have to aspire to her humility and faith. Amen. Thank you so much for reading and commenting my post. I really appreciate it. Many love and blessing to you.

      Reply

  5. Hello Sis,
    This post is beautiful. We could all be Canaanite Women if we think about it, most reading this blog are not Jews. So what about our faith? Can we display great faith? God is great. He deserves nothing less than great faith. Great questions to think about Karina, great post.

    Reply

    • Good morning,sis.
      Thank you so much for you lovely response. Yes He deserves nothing less than great faith. Amen. By the way many of my friends gave me suggestion to write about Rahab. What do you think,sis?

      Reply

        • Ok sis, I will try my best. Please pray for it. My problem to writing is about time. So difficult to have much time to writing. I wrote the last post in my car when I on my way to home. Please pray for me,sis 🙂 Thank you.

          Reply

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