Mark 7:26–28: “The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. But Jesus said to her, ‘Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she answered and said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children’s crumbs.'”

February 2nd, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In that culture, this woman, who was asking Jesus to cast a demon out of her daughter, had 2 strikes against her—she was a Gentile and a woman. Matthew 15:22 adds that she was a descendant of the Canaanites, the people group that had enticed the Jews into idol worship in the Old Testament. Jesus noticed her persistence and desired to draw her faith out more fully. Their exchange is the subject of much debate, but a few important things are indisputable. Although Jesus at first seemed unkind when He said, “throw it to the little dogs,” she heard something in His tone of voice or saw something in His mannerisms that made her realize He was leaving the door open for her. Maybe it was as simple as a twinkle in His eye. Again we believe this is one of the many times Jesus was smiling. He knew He was going to heal her, but He was trying to build her faith.

Maybe you have had similar thoughts, something like, “the Lord is being difficult with me” or “why isn’t He answering my prayer immediately?” Could it be that He is doing something much deeper in you, seeking a prayer dialog between you and Him? Perhaps He is helping you to discover deeper faith through perseverance and what old-time believers called prevailing prayer. They may be principals you will need to help you not just in your present difficulties, but also in eternity to come. So we try to never pray, “Lord get me out of this situation” or “get me out of these circumstances.” But rather, “Lord, Your will be done.”

“LORD, help us to learn the lessons You are teaching us, so we don’t have to go around this mountain again.”