The Power of Persistent Faith: Lessons from the Canaanite Woman

In our daily meditations, we reflect on the supernatural acts of Jesus during His time on earth. Today, we focus on the casting out of a demon from a woman's daughter:

²¹Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²²A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon possession." ²³Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." ²⁴He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." ²⁵The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. ²⁶He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." ²⁷"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." ²⁸Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour (Matthew 15:21-28).

When God Seems Silent: The Test of Persistence

The disciples complained about the Canaanite woman’s relentless cries, telling the Lord, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us" (v. 23). They showed no intention of helping her, which led her to approach Jesus. Although it might seem unusual, Jesus remained silent, choosing to observe the depth of her faith. She was seeking help for her demonized daughter; neither was part of the house of Israel. Jesus explained that His main mission was initially to the Jewish people. When prayers are not answered immediately, persistence proves wise. Despite His silence, she didn't give up but moved closer—Jesus was her only hope. “The woman came and knelt before him” (v. 25). She was determined to secure her daughter's deliverance and refused to be discouraged.

She likely felt even more discouraged when Jesus said it was “not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs” (v. 26). I suspect there was a twinkle in His eye and a loving smile on His face as He said this, because she responded with remarkable faith. This kind of persistent faith was probably exactly what He desired. Faith pleases and honors God more than anything else (Hebrews 11:6). Jesus was pleased with her response when she claimed that even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the table. Because of her faith, He immediately healed her daughter. I wonder how often we miss out on what we desire from Christ because we give up too soon, failing to persevere past the obstacles to God’s blessings.

Understanding "The Children’s Bread"

What was Jesus referring to when He mentioned the “children’s bread”? (v. 26) In Scripture, bread typically symbolizes the essential food of that era. The Lord's Prayer asks, “Give us this day our daily bread.” If Jesus were teaching this prayer in Asia, He might have said, “Give us this day our daily rice.” How should we interpret His words to the woman? He is indicating that supernatural acts of power, deliverance, and healing are the core sustenance for God's children. She was not a child of God because she was not an Israelite by birth; however, since the cross, any Gentile (non-Jew) can become God's child through faith in Christ’s sacrifice under the New Covenant. The woman did not meet the qualifications for the blessings of the “children’s bread,” which signifies the vital sustenance found in a covenant relationship with the King of Heaven.

Claiming Your Covenant Blessing Today

If you have faith in Christ and are a child of God, you qualify to receive the children's bread! You are included in God's covenant, and the manifestation of the Spirit's work is accessible to every redeemed child of God. If this woman, outside the faith community, can approach the King of Kings to request God's miraculous power for her daughter, then surely a child of God should ask boldly and expect to receive. The obstacle is not with God; demons tremble whenever a child of God prays and calls on God to act supernaturally. Prayer frequently encounters resistance from hell, but perseverance remains crucial, as shown in the story. As children of God, trusting in Jesus Christ grants us the divine right to command demons and wield power. Perhaps now is the moment for you to start using your God-ordained authority in your family’s life and your own. Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, there is much more to explore about God’s plan in Jesus’ Authority over Demons, in the Gospel of Luke, in the All Studies box on the Home Page.

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