Where do we find the faith to stand in the midst of all the trials of this world? We want so much at times. We beg God to answer our prayers as we stand in the midst of financial disaster, illness, grief, emotional pain, and feelings of worthlessness. We wonder if He is too busy to be bothered, too tired of our continued requests, or too disappointed in our utter unworthiness. We hear the burning words of Jesus to His disciples and His apostles, “Where is your faith?”
Only twice during His Earthly Ministry do we find scriptures in which Christ refers to someone’s “great faith”. Often, He had referred to faith as the key to one’s healing, redemption, and salvation; yet, it was only twice that referred to “great faith.” One was a Canaanite woman and one was a Centurion Soldier. So let us look at both of these over the next few days and see why He had referred to their faith as great and let us re-examine our own faith and our requests.
Her response was that “the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master’s table”. She did not protest or wail, she humbly worshipped and was willing to take the scraps that fell. “Then, Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman great is thy faith”
Jesus had drawn aside with His apostles so as to get some very needed rest. The work had been hard and the crowds did not allow any rest for them, there were so many needy, sick, injured, and maimed. To add to the fatigue there were the scribes and Pharisees following them and criticizing everything that they or Jesus had done. They needed a moment to be alone so they went to this house to rest. While trying to rest suddenly outside they heard this woman
crying, pleading for Jesus to heal her daughter. She was a Canaanite woman, a Gentile from a condemned nation (Gen 9:25). She cried out to Him, “O Lord, thou son of David”. She referred to Him as the Master, the Great I am, the Messiah. How? She was not Jewish, she was not brought up in the Scriptures; and, yet, from all that she had heard she believed in Him and in His power over demons. He ignored her. The disciples pleaded with Him to send her away—they could not rest as her cries continued to be heard. He responds to the the apostles by saying, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”. Was this a test question? Was this to test the understanding of the apostles who were not the most learned bunch of Jewish doctrine, though Jews? Or was it a test of the woman’s faith? Her next move is astonishing. She fell down and worshipped Him. He had ignored her. He had pointed out her unworthiness. He had not said that He would answer or give her anything; yet, she worshipped Him because of who He IS. She knew that if He gave her nothing, He was still worthy of her praise. Then, He spoke to her. Now if we see what He said, we would have probably walked away in defense—He makes a remark as to “why should He take from the children (the Israelites) to feed the dogs (the gentiles). “ Her response was that “the dogs eat of the crumbs that fall from their master’s table”. She did not protest or wail, she humbly worshipped and was willing to take the scraps that fell. “Then, Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman great is thy faith” He healed her daughter. She went away, knowing and believing He had done exactly as He promised. She did not demand He come with her. She left Him there to minister to His apostles and to rest; she believed and she went home knowing He had done this even though she had not yet seen the miracle.
Matthew 15: 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.
So what does Great Faith Look Like in this woman?
1. Great Faith worships the Giver not the gift. Too often we get tied up in worshipping what we think we might receive from God rather than worshipping Him for who He is. Even if He never answers a request of mine, even if heaven and hell were not a reality, even if He ignored me—He is worthy of my praise and worship because of who He is.
2. Great Faith comes from the acceptance of our own unworthiness with full recognition that it is Grace Alone that allows me an audience before the throne of God.
3. Great Faith believes without sight that God has answered our prayers.
So let us praise Him for who He is. He has never, ever left us alone despite our unworthiness. Let’s sing along with Matt Redman, Never Once
© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to any brands, products or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides regarding the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”