GREAT FAITH

Christ’s journey to the coast of Tyre was on the single account of this woman. He goes to meet her; then she is drawn to Him. She cries after Him at a distance, being afraid of approaching too near Him. Her petition is for mercy, which all the children want, and is followed with a declaration of her misery: My daughter is vexed with a devil; and who is not? He answered her not; though He came hither on purpose to heal her daughter, yet makes no answer. Jesus sometimes tries our faith in like manner, which is designed to bring us nearer, and make us cry the louder.

The disciples now interceded for her: “Send her away, for she crieth after us.” Christ’s silence puts no stop to the woman’s cries, but makes her more importunate. Disciples should take no denial from Jesus; but follow Him up close, till an answer of peace comes. Weak believers often question whether they belong to the house of Israel. Such should imitate the conduct of this woman, continue instant in prayer for mercy, and lie at the feet of Christ; and their interest in Him will clear up itself by degrees. And from the words of Christ, no one could have more cause to doubt of their interest in Him than she had: Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

This conduct of Christ brings the woman humbly to His feet, with adoration and prayer, crying, “Lord, help me.” At first she came only concerned for her daughter; now she seems concerned for herself, and cries, “Lord, help me.” A short prayer, but effectual.

To try and humble her yet more, Christ seems not only to reject, but also to reproach her: It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to the dogs. Now she may have cause to conclude herself a reprobate, for Jesus had called her a dog; and such we are all by nature, snarling, snapping, greedy, ravenous creatures. The woman’s heart was truly humbled and broken down, else she would have resented this reproachful language, but she owns it suited her well: “Truth, Lord; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from the master’s table.” And after having prayed importunately for mercy, now pleads ingeniously for it. Lord, I ask not for whole bread, but for crumbs. I am a dog ‘tis true; but a dog at the master’s feet, where he ought to be; a dog under his table, expecting only crumbs, a dog’s fare; and, since I do not ask for whole bread, I hope the master will not deny a poor dog his crumbs. See the use of pleading in prayer. Let dogs keep under the master’s table, expecting crumbs. The woman, being humbled and brought to Christ’s feet, is sent home, not with crumbs, but two whole loaves, one for herself, and another for her daughter, the daughter cured, the mother delivered and comforted.

Hence take encouragement to bring your own devils to Christ, and the devils in your children, to be cast out. Let no silence of Jesus, not any discouragement from the word of Jesus, not any doubts about your being relieved discourage you; but pray and plead on, till the devil is cast out. Take no denial from Christ, but whilst He tries faith and patience, to bring you humbly to His feet, keep praying and expecting, till He meets and surprises you with a blessing and commendation.

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