Photo credit: Spencer Finnley’s Photostream
“But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Matthew 15:27.
The conversation is between Jesus, the Jew, and the Syro-Phoenician woman, a Gentile. He is in her territory…on her turf. But He is there "to take a break”…to find respite from the demanding ministry to the people of His calling. The Gospel of Mark tells us that “…He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden.” (Mark 7:24)
He finds on his doorstep a woman He is not called to minister to…a person outside the scope of His purpose…a Gentile invading His personal space. She has come with a need…and she won’t go away. Mark lets us know she’s bothersome with her persistence: “…and she kept asking Him…” An irritant which ‘got to’ the disciples; they urged Jesus to end the matter by sending her away. Not grant her request…just get rid of her through dismissal.
He could have done that…but instead, He engages her in conversation. But His words appear harsh, don’t they? Cold. Unfeeling. Jarring. Disconcerting. Lacking grace. Words so outside His character. But they were words that defined what He was about and to whom He was about. His mission was to the covenant people, the Jewish nation. A race God had called out with a promise: “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:2,3. This people were His target audience…and she was outside that perimeter.
This woman’s response I find interesting. It’s loaded with self-assessment that is healthy and faith that is dynamic. She knew who she was…but also who He was. She’s marginalized…He’s merciful. She’s impotent…He’s all-powerful. She has no claim…He has no limit to His grace. She’s outside the covenant relationship…He’s Master of all.
Where did that faith come from? Well, believe it or not, it came from having a need that was so compelling it forced her to transparency…before Jesus and herself. Her need brought her to confession of soul and faith of spirit. Her need of a demon-possessed daughter sent her beyond her ethnic boundaries to ask for something that wasn’t rightfully hers. And in asking for Jesus’ help, she acknowledged the scope of His authority: all authority in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18. He had the ability to do what she was asking…and would do it. Not because He’s all-powerful…but because He’s merciful. She’s counting on who He is. She has no other base for her appeal.
The tipping point that brought her to worship and petition was the heart-wrenching condition of her precious daughter. Could she have gotten there without that? Probably not…for usually it is ‘need’ that pushes us past our barriers to something…Someone bigger than ourselves. So, ‘need’ is actually a vehicle God uses to bring us to glory: the majesty of His person that is greater than our need.
But tipping points can tip us away from Him as well. It all depends on our perspective. Do we see them as God’s gifts to us or as indictments of His love for us?
What is my tipping point…and which way am I tipping?
Marcia
