Grace Beyond Borders

"Pray without ceasing"- 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Do you see yourself as an outsider? Or as someone whom society has pushed aside? Well, if that's how you see yourself, then it is important that you consider the story of the Canaanite woman and Jesus in Matthew 15:21-28.

In the passage, Jesus enters the region of Tyre and Sidon, and He is immediately met with a Canaanite woman from that region. The woman came to Jesus crying, 'LORD, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.'- Matthew 15:22.

We also read in verse 23 that, 'Jesus did not answer a word.' At this point, Jesus chose to stay silent. Normally, Jesus would go ahead and do or say something. But on this occasion, he just went quiet. What's unique about this situation is that the woman was a Canaanite and not an Israelite. The Canaanites and the Gentiles were often considered as unclean, unworthy people and outsiders by the Jews.

We see this a lot in our present time. The world has somehow come up with a way of segregating people based on their race, religion, ethnic/cultural or social backgrounds. Just like the Canaanite woman, people may have made you feel like an outsider, an alien or the odd one out, simply because you are different.

What's interesting about the Canaanite woman is that she knew who Jesus was. She had a better understanding of Jesus' identity than most of the lost sheep of Israel; she referred to Jesus as the Son of David. In addition, news about Jesus had spread far and wide and into the regions of Tyre and Sidon, where this woman lived. Her persistent cry to Jesus became so annoying that the disciples suggested to Jesus that he should send the woman away.

Because of her persistent cry to Jesus, it opened a window of opportunity for Jesus to reply to her. He did not send her away as his disciples had requested, but replied to her saying, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.' So many times, people give up on God when they pray and their prayers don't get answered immediately. And because God chose to be silent in the midst of prayer, they began questioning God and doubting Him. And thoughts like, 'Did God really hear my prayer? Why is He not answering me, or has He abandoned me?', starts to slowly torment you because you've given the devil a foothold in your mind.

If there's something we can learn from the Canaanite woman, it's persistence in prayer. She chose to press on; she knew she was in the presence of Jesus and that Jesus heard her. It didn't matter to her whether she was a Jew or Canaanite, clean or unclean, VIP or common person; she had to go before Jesus for help.

When the Canaanite woman heard Jesus' first response, she went before Jesus and knelt in humility and prayed the simplest and most powerful prayer. 'LORD, help me!' - Matthew 15:25. She understood that she was in the presence of a King; she recognised that Jesus had the authority and power over the evil spirit that had been tormenting her daughter. Kneeling signifies humility and total surrender to the one who has authority.

Could it be that God doesn't answer our prayers because of our lack of humility? James 4:6 reads, 'God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.' It is important that we look deep inside and consider how we approach God. Are we going before God with a proud heart or with a heart of humility?

Jesus then answered the woman, 'It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.' - Matthew 15:26. At this point, the woman didn't get discouraged; she didn't quit standing in the gap for her daughter. Rather than being heartbroken, she took Jesus' words to her own advantage. She replied, 'Yes, it is, LORD, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.'

Her response demonstrated great faith she had in Jesus and she found favour in Jesus and her request was granted. We read that her daughter was healed at that moment. The Canaanite woman placed her hopes in what you would say, 'crumbs on the Master's table.' God's grace and mercy come in abundance and in overflow; it is in the overflow that she chose to put her hopes on. In the end, Jesus praised the woman for her great faith. She had a better understanding of the Kingdom of God than most people.

There is hope in Jesus, and it doesn't matter how far back or deep in sin you are. The Grace and Mercy of God can still locate you and redeem you back to Jesus. God's Mercy is breaking boundaries and entering new territories. Just like the Canaanite woman whom society had classified as unworthy and unclean, and God's grace and mercy redeemed her and her daughter, you too are not any different; God's grace will still locate you.

In this passage, we can learn the importance of persistence in prayer, praying in humility and the power of faith anchored in Jesus. The Canaanite woman was able to demonstrate all these, even though she was an outsider, a non-Jew and yet she found favour in God. It therefore challenges us to be consistent in prayer as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 'Be consistent in prayer.' Humility of heart is key when in the presence of God, Jesus says, 'For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.'- Matthew 23:12.

The passage also encourages you and me to come to Jesus with humility and present our requests to Him. May God bless you as you continue to seek His face.

'Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.' - 1 Chronicles 16:11