“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.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, ‘Send her away; for she crieth after us.’ But he answered and said, ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then came she and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ But he answered and said, ‘It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs.’ And she said, ‘Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ 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” (Matt. 15:22-28).
If anyone had a right to give up, this woman did. Her daughter was oppressed by an evil spirit and desperately needed to be set free.
But this woman was a Syrophenician, a Gentile; she didn’t have a covenant with God. Even so, this Syrophenician woman came to Jesus, the healer and source of power, and cried out for help.
At first, Jesus ignored her. Then He turned to His disciples and said, “I’m not sent to help her anyway. I’m sent to the lost sheep of Israel.”
I used to read this Scripture passage and think, Why did Jesus harass that poor woman? But Jesus didn’t harass her; He located her to see if she was in faith.
Someone may say, “I thought Jesus knew everything.” No, Jesus only knew what God showed Him. But Jesus knew that if the woman came in faith, she could get results even though she had no legal covenant with God.
This woman didn’t quit. Hope would have given up, but her faith held on. And as a result, her daughter was made whole!
I have a covenant with my Father, and healing is included in that covenant. I have confidence in what the Lord Jesus has provided for me, and I will never give up!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.