Have you every wished that you could sleep like a baby with no cares or worries? While praying this morning, I was pondering the word, “faith.” What is faith? The generic definition is an unwavering belief in someone or something. However, the Apostle Paul gives us a very specific definition of faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 KJV).
Faith is trust that allows rest in God. Faith puts the cares and concerns into God’s hands. Faith does not demand evidence, for faith believes before it sees and trusts that God is faithful to answer in His time and according to His purposes. Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever draws near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
It was by faith that Noah, being warned by God 120 years before the coming flood, constructed an ark to save his household.
By faith Abraham obeyed and went, not knowing where he was going, to a foreign land of promise. By faith Sarah received power to conceive in her old age.
By faith, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing instead to follow God and reject the fleeting wealth and pleasures of sin.
By faith Moses led God’s people through the Red Sea as on dry land, and God saved them from the pursuing Egyptians.
By faith, the Israelites obeyed God and for seven day marched around Jericho that had walls approximately 5 to 7 feet thick, 12 to 17 feet high, with a defensive tower that stood 28 feet high. On the seventh day, they marched again and with a great shout, the walls fell down.
By faith, when the angel announced to Mary that she would carry the Son of God, she responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled” (Luke 1:38 NIV).
There were many more men and women, who responded to God in faith and obedience. How did these men and women of the Bible have faith to believe God? They saw themselves as servants (devoted followers) of the Lord and believed His Word and His promises.
A great example of faith was a Canaanite woman, who cried out to Jesus, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” His disciples begged Jesus to send her away.He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Matthew 15:20-27).
Why did Jesus respond to the woman in this way? Jesus was creating a metaphor meant to explain the priorities of His ministry and to teach His disciples a lesson in faith.
Jews referred to Gentiles as “dogs.” Non-Jews were considered unspiritual and unclean. However, much of Jesus’ ministry exposed prejudices (Matthew 11:19). Jesus had purposefully left Israel, to minister to the Gentiles in Gentile territory (Matthew 15:21). So, when the Canaanite woman tearfully approached Jesus with her request, Jesus’ response is puzzling to us unless we understand what He was trying to accomplish.
Jesus frequently tested people, especially the Sadducees and Pharisees, to reveal their intentions and their wrong thinking. And He was about to test the disciples and show them their extreme prejudice. Jesus being God, knows the hearts of man. He already knew how the disciples would respond to this woman and He knew how the woman would respond in faith.
Jesus went on to explain that His duty was first to the people of Israel and not to the Gentiles (Matthew 15:24). To take attention from Israel would violate His mission. It would be like a father taking food from His children and giving it to their pets (Matthews 15:26). The exact word Jesus used in Greek was kunarion, meaning “small dog” or “pet dog.” This is a different word from the Greek word kuon, meaning unspiritual people or an “unclean” animal.
In testing the woman’s faith, Jesus declined her request and explained that she had no legitimate expectation to receive His help. The woman, however, had faith like the persistent widow who did not give up in asking for justice (Luke 18:1-8). The Canaanite woman responded, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table” (Matthew 15:20-27). Her response proved that though she understood what Jesus had said, it was her bold faith that moved Jesus to action (Matthew 15:27). Jesus acknowledged her faith by calling it “great,” and granted her request (Matthew 15:28).
Jesus looks for us to have faith to ask and believe that we will receive from Him. He had every intention of answering this woman’s prayer, but He wanted to test her faith and reveal to the disciples their prejudices. Though He came first for the Jew, He also came for the gentile (all those not Jewish).
Many Jews thought that God loved them more than the gentiles, but Peter would come to understand and teach others that God does not show favoritism. He wants people of all nations to repent and be saved (2 Peter 3:9; 1 Timothy 2:4). Not only does God love and accept all nationalities, he wants the world to accept His Son as the truth, the way, and the life, knowing that God is faithful, who has called us into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ (John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 1:9).
We will always have trials and challenges in this life. …“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Chris” (1 Peter 1:6-7).
Has your prayer not been answered? Rejoice! God’s timing and purposes are sovereign and perfect. His delays are not His denials. Maybe we need to be more like the widow who refused to give up until she received justice, or like the Canaanite women who was not discouraged by Jesus’ comments, but showed her faith in pressing in until Jesus gave her the miracle she requested.
PRAYER: FATHER, I have been carrying these cares and worries to the point of exhaustion. I know Your Word tells me to pray without ceasing, but I am discouraged because I see no answer in sight. Help me to trust in You, whom I cannot see, and forgive me for trusting in what I see. Give me that measure of faith to press forward like the widow and the Canaanite women who refused to give up. In Jesus’ name, amen.