"For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him." (Hebrews 2:8b KJV)
"Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely." But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. "Tell her to go away," they said. "She is bothering us with her begging." Then Jesus said to the woman, "I was sent only to help God's lost sheep - the people of Israel." But she came and worshipped him, pleading again, "Lord, help me!" Jesus responded, "It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs." She replied, "That's true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their master's table." "Dear woman," Jesus said to her, "your faith is great. Your request is granted." And her daughter was instantly healed." (Matthew 15:21-28 NLT)
To try and understand this issue, whatever the reason it is that caused Jesus to ignore this woman; we need to observe the message He had previously called out to the crowd in Jerusalem, saying, "Listen, and try to understand. It's not what goes into your mouths that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth." (Matthew 15:10-11 NLT)
The chances of this Canaanite woman being there, in this particular moment, would seem to be strange, had it not been Jesus' choice to head north into this region. Call it a divine appointment or call it just chance; but I believe everything that Jesus encountered was already predestined to happen! This was just another example of unwasted appointments, even though it first appeared as though He didn't want to waste His time with her!
If there was one thing I have paid close attention to, over the last 40 plus years, is that we don't give up on asking God to help us do right and follow His commands. That might not seem necessary, if we are trying to make it work; mostly because He already knows where we lack being good and where we don't do what is right; but there is no excuse for not asking Him to help us!
There is an easy example of what I am trying to say, which is when God tells us to move a rock that cannot be moved. We try and try, pushing and struggling to get that rock to move; giving up from time to time, as if it isn't going to happen. All the while, God is waiting for us to ask Him for His help, which is what He expected us to do, all along.
Even then, in the time we spent trying to push on that rock, we might not have moved it, not even an inch; but we were exercising and making ourselves stronger in the process; until we became feeling discouraged and give up; only to be remined to try again, as if there was another way...
"Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: "Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, 'A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.' And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, 'Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can't help you.' But I tell you this - though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. "You fathers - if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."" (Luke 11:5-13 NLT)
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