Even The Dogs
LENT 2022 | DAY 19
Matthew 15:21-39 (NIV)
(Andrew Ng, Small Group Leader, Small Group Ministry)
READ:
Matthew 15:21-39 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
In Matthew 15:21, Jesus headed to Tyre and Sidon, a predominantly Gentile region. There, a Canaanite woman (a historic enemy of the Israelites), came out to meet him and knelt before him and begged Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter (verses 21-25). Jesus originally stated that he was sent “only to the lost sheep of Israel”, by which he meant he was to come first for the house of Israel. Despite this initial silence by Jesus, and the urging of his disciples to send her away, the Canaanite woman persisted with her request, which eventually impressed Jesus to not only heal her daughter at that very moment, but to also commend her for her faith.
Following this incident, Jesus continued further into Decapolis, another Gentile region in the east of Galilee (verse 29). A large crowd (who were likely Gentiles living in that area) had followed Jesus for three days and they brought their sick and infirmed to be healed by Jesus. Jesus had compassion on the crowd and in addition to healing them, he also fed them by multiplying the seven loaves and the few fishes they had with them.
APPLY:
[1] Have faith
Even though the Canaanite woman did not get the answer she wanted immediately, she nevertheless had great faith and persisted in begging Jesus to heal her demon- possessed daughter. Likewise, whenever I am faced with adversity and don’t hear from God, I should continue to have faith that He is sovereign and able to intervene in my circumstances. Jesus proved that he was compassionate to the pleas of the Canaanite woman and can show this same compassion to me when I come before him in faith and with persistence.
[2] Follow Jesus
The crowd of 4,000 spent 3 days following Jesus into the wilderness, bringing forth their sick and infirmed for him to heal. They followed him even though they had likely never seen this Jesus before and despite insufficient food. Jesus instructed his followers to pick up their cross and follow him, even if it meant following him into the unknown and into tribulation. I should take heart knowing that Christ will provide for those who follow him, just like how he provided the 4,000 with food in the wilderness. Following Christ will not be an easy journey, but Christ will provide.
DO:
When faced with uncertainty and troubled times, it is important to persist in prayer and to continue to have faith in submitting our requests to God. My God is a compassionate God, who took pity on the Canaanite woman and healed her daughter; healed the sick and blind of the other Gentiles in the wilderness; and provided enough bread and fish for the crowd when they were hungry. In this season of Lent, I should remember that when Christ came to die on the cross, it was not just for the Jews, but also for us Gentiles. Sometimes I feel unworthy of redemption or feel trapped in my circumstances, but knowing that Christ died for me, I don’t have to be afraid that I am merely like “dogs begging for scraps at the table”. Instead, just like the Canaanite woman who persisted, I can boldly approach God through Christ, knowing that I am part of his kingdom and plan.
PRAY:
Dear God, thank you for hearing my prayers whenever I call out to you. Give me persistence and faith to pursue you even if it means following you into the wilderness and not immediately hearing from you. Thank you for sending Christ down to die for my sins and for grafting me, a Gentile, into part of your kingdom and your family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
