Blog

As we’re going through Matthew 15 this week as a church, I was blessed to go deeper into what happened when Jesus traveled far and met the Syrophoenician woman.

Here are 5 things that blessed me from Jesus' example there, as well as hers:

1. The assurance that we are in God’s will is far more important to know and have, than to know what the outcome will be. Eventually the “why” will be answered.

Matthew 15:21 "Jesus then left that part of the country and walked the fifty miles to Tyre and Sidon." (TLB)

Jesus walked 50 miles as the Father led Him. I believe since Jesus on earth as a man was exactly like us (Heb 4:15), He didn’t know all the future. He had to follow the Holy Spirit like we do: just trusting.  I don't know if Jesus knew there would be one woman where He was going that He was going to help.  But it's very possible that He didn't.

It must have been so hard walking 50 miles in the heat and sun! Sometimes God leads us down a path which is really long and hard and we don’t know why or what will happen. It’s a season, but God has a purpose for it. It will become clear as we go down the path.

Jesus said those who are born of the Holy Spirit (and follow the Holy Spirit) are like the wind (John 3:8). We don’t know where we are coming or going when we are following the Holy Spirit. God Himself is guiding us and only He sees what's coming and He has planned for it.  But if we follow, God can fulfill His purposes through us - He can do amazing things through those who follow the constant whispers of the Holy Spirit because they are listening and have a hunger to accomplish His will, and not their own.

And on the 'journey' (before the outcome), we can have an amazing peace and satisfaction with the assurance that we are in the Lord's will, pleasing Him. This is the rest in Jesus we should strive for everyday.  "Be diligent to enter God's Rest" (Heb 4:11)

The desperate Syrophoenician woman found Jesus, and started pleading with Him, and see what it says Jesus did:

“But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us."” Matthew 15:23 NASB

Our natural tendency when someone asks us something or speaks to us expecting some response - usually our response is to just jump in and start talking, talking, talking - the first thing that comes to our mind; with such confidence we just keep talking.  That’s because we lean on ourselves so much.  In pride we can feel we know the answers to every situation and see everything so clearly.  But see Jesus: with all of His wisdom and being completely filled with the Spirit; He was always slow to speak, leaning on the Father for the next Word.  This is the way we have to follow.

Jesus stayed silent while this woman was crying out to Him. Jesus often had no problem doing this (staying silent while people pressed Him). He did this to the Pharisees as they continued to press Him about the woman caught in adultery (John 8:6-7), He did this to people accusing Him (Mark 14:61), etc.

Not every question needs to be answered, not every word needs a response.

When we don’t know what to say, a good default is to stay silent until the Spirit leads us. In our heart, we can be considering what’s wise, talking to God and asking God what to say in the moment, like Nehemiah did : “Then the king said to me, “What would you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven” Nehemiah 2:4.

“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.” Proverbs 10:19

Jesus knew it wasn't His calling to heal those outside of His own people at the moment. This was His Father's specific calling for Him and His disciples for that time (Matt 15:24, Matt 10:5-6). He made an exception, after hearing from His Father.

“God made the Sabbath for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).”

The rules (and self-discipline) I make or I feel are from God, I should not be a slave to so strictly if God is leading me otherwise.

Eric Liddell sacrificed an Olympic gold medal by not running on a Sunday (his own conviction), but was happy after that to run and play soccer with a group of children on a Sunday. The heart of love puts God and others first, and holds to things generally but also is not legalistic.  And it has learned/is learning to follow the whispers of leading of the Holy Spirit, not just a preset list of rules and laws like in the Old Testament. It is a living interaction and communication/relationship with the Father. It's less like a Dad who gives a child a list of tasks to do (leaving him alone to do it) and more like a child who is with his Dad working together to accomplish the Dad's plan for the day.

At first Jesus pushed back at the woman's request and said to her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and began to bow down before Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” And He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”” Matthew 15:24-26

I believe the Lord was testing her, to see if she was really hungry for His help, and if she valued Him, being full of faith.

HUNGER TO OVERCOME SIN

The Lord loves to see faith that presses on even when we don't see a response from Him right away to our requests. For example; When we sin, and repent - praise the Lord that He comforts us in our failings. He doesn’t threaten us with Hell, He reassures and encourages us. But for those who just stop there (comforted in God's forgiveness, but resigned to a defeated life) - I believe He is silently disappointed that they don’t want to fight harder to be an overcomer, that they didn’t push harder to fight that sin or temptation - to fight and pray and persist. He is waiting for those who continue to press on and say, "Lord! You deserve glory from my life! You’re the only thing that matters, I’m all in! Help me to overcome this!” He’s waiting for the few who will press Him like this. In the kingdom of God, “The violent take it by force”.

“You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;” Hebrews 12:4 NASB

Jacob wrestled with God and said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” And she had the same spirit:

Matt 15:27 But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." 15:28 Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.

Pray for your overcoming of sin. And pray for others to build them up that they will be overcomers too.  This woman was pleading not for herself but for her daughter.  We should have a burden that our lives, our household, and our church would bring glory to God's name. And a burden to be filled with the Spirit ourselves and with spiritual gifts so God can use us to build others up in the same.

"And give Him no rest until He establishes And makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." - Isaiah 62:7

Persist! Pray! Commit to pray for years and decades if needed. Pray and don’t give up. Let prayer and persistence be your life’s work for decades if needed until God does something - because He deserves glory from our life before we leave this earth.

Overcomers aren't the ones who happen to have so much more strength than everyone else. They're just the ones who kept on going.

"The heights of great men - reached and kept, were not attained by sudden flight;

But they while their companions slept, were toiling upwards in the night."

Matt 15:27 "But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."

She was thankful with even a little 'crumb' from the Lord - it didn't need to be what everyone else had.  It just needed to be enough for her burden (her daughter).  And she was full of faith that Jesus was her only hope - where else would she go?

Imagine all the things most people may have responded at this point.  "Why can't you help me? Am I not as good as your people? Are you calling me a dog?" Most would have gotten offended, comparing themselves or accusing Jesus.  But I'm blessed by her response and want to follow this attitude - if God chooses some difficult thing for me which many others may not be suffering, do I get offended at His ways toward me?  That can be a really hard temptation.  But faith and humility overcome this.

Faith trusts that God is good, and humility allows Him to do things in His way, not ours. We're content with God alone, and so we let God do whatever else He wants in His way.

When we come to the point where we say, “You are God. You do what you want. When you want. How you want. I have you and that's enough.”, then God can work with us.