Warriors Arise: February 5, 2024
Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
Part of me thinking, Jesus wouldn't call anyone a dog, much less a swine! Then I remembered another reference to dogs, a red letter reference.
Actually, He called a woman a "little"dog". This woman is of Canaan. She is not a Jew. Jesus was sent to the Jews, His Father's people, His bride-to-be. But this woman would not be deterred. She knew the "bad blood" between Jews and Canaanites. She knew there were boundaries no one ever crossed without a fight. But for her daughter, she would pay the price to make her request known.
She has been following Jesus for a great deal of time. His disciples came to Him and urged Him to send her away, "For she cries out after us". They were tired of her crying! Maybe they even tried to send her way with no success. They want the crying to stop. Jesus responds to His disciples request.
Matthew 15: 24-26 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”
But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”
There it is, in red letters (in my Bible), Jesus called this woman little dog. But why? Why wouldn't Jesus hear her petition?
Jesus had the power to heal anyone. He could deliver anyone. He could cleanse anyone from leprocy. He could raise th dead. He would speak and what He spoke, it would happen. As we learn of Jesus, we know power came form Him and from His clothing without Him even knowing. The first was the woman with the issue of blood. He tells her, her faith has made her well. After that, the Bible records crowds of people touching Jesus and being healed. So, why was He resistant to this Canaanite woman?
He knew He was called to the lost people of Israel. He also knew He was human. He couldn't go everywhere and do everything. God is omnipresent. Jesus, in human form, was not. He could not be everywhere at one time. He knew the Father's plan and stuck to it. He would not be deterred by those who were just using Him and did not want a relationship with His Father, to make Him their God. But this woman.
Matthew 15:27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”
This woman stopped Jesus in His tracks. He heard something He wasn't expecting. He recognized it and honored it.
Matthew 15:28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
He heard faith. He recognized she knew her place. She didn't say she should get to sit at the table. She humbled herself and accepted being called a little dog. She also knew people who loved their dogs, fed them well. They didn't just feed them dog food, they fed them food from their table. Her knew just one scrap from Jesus' table would be enough to deliver her daughter from the demons who possessed her.
My Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. As I open Your Word, I ask for food from Your table. Your food gives me strength, clarity, direction, fulfillment, love, peace, joy, courage and boldness. Your food gives me healing in my body, physically, mentally, and spiritually in Jesus' Name, amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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