Genuine seekers who as yet have not obtained the blessing, may take comfort from the story before us. The Saviour did not at once bestow the blessing, even though the woman had great faith in Him. He intended to give it, but He waited awhile. "He answered her not a word." Were not her prayers good? Never better in the world. Was not her case needy? Sorrowfully needy. Did she not feel her need sufficiently? She felt it overwhelmingly. Was she not earnest enough? She was intensely so. Had she no faith? She had such a high degree of it that even Jesus wondered, and said, "O woman, great is thy faith." See then, although it is true that faith brings peace, yet it does not always bring it instantaneously. There may be certain reasons calling for the trial of faith, rather than the reward of faith. Genuine faith may be in the soul like a hidden seed, but as yet it may not have budded and blossomed into joy and peace. A painful silence from the Saviour is the grievous trial of many a seeking soul, but heavier still is the affliction of a harsh cutting reply such as this, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." Many in waiting upon the Lord find immediate delight, but this is not the case with all. Some, like the jailer, are in a moment turned from darkness to light, but others are plants of slower growth. A deeper sense of sin may be given to you instead of a sense of pardon, and in such a case you will have need of patience to bear the heavy blow. Ah! poor heart, though Christ beat and bruise thee, or even slay thee, trust Him; though He should give thee an angry word, believe in the love of His heart. Do not, I beseech thee, give up seeking or trusting my Master, because thou hast not yet obtained the conscious joy which thou longest for. Cast thyself on Him, and perseveringly depend even where thou canst not rejoicingly hope.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Thanks for the post ashlanddog! Always great Biblical stories and comments coming from you, supplying us with our daily bread! Your efforts in the Great Awakening will not go unnoticed in eternity, I have a good feeling :)
I love the story about the Canaanite woman, because on it's face it seems like Jesus is hard-hearted, or some even say "racist". Calling her a dog (the greek word used is more like "pet dog" not "mangy cur" or anything like that), saying his blessing is for Jews first. But really I can't imagine Jesus loves turning people's requests down, just as God says "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked" in Ezekiel 33:11.
This story illuminates a simple point of logic and logistics about the gospel and the church. Blessings and resources simply go to the family first, then to the world. But it also illustrates the position non-believers are in, and how submission to Christ is all it takes for the request to be answered. Upon faith and belief, they join the family, God makes them a new creation, and boom, they are a priest and a temple in one, and they can go to Jesus with prayers and woes alike!
Amen, nicely said....
God points this out a lot in the Bible, to keep asking Him no matter what. He is alive!
Excuse me but I'd prefer a "fuck you" from Jesus as opposed to the "love" of demanding that you beg and beg and beg....for nothing. Pretty sure you guys call that "prayer".
I teach my children what I expect of them, then I actually fucking help them in those instructions, as opposed to getting kicks out of ignoring them when they try and fail, and ask for help. Not a fan of giving kids intentionally difficult to understand partial instructions, followed by the cold shoulder when they ask for help in figuring out the riddle you gave them. Also not fond of that prarent standing silently with arms crossed watching as you struggle, all because you havent begged enough. You wouldnt call that a good parent, now would you.
"Please? Oh please oh please oh PLEEEEEEEASE please please PLEEEEEEZE please please god please Please can you PLEASE Please please help me?" Wash rinse repeat. Over and over. And over and over. And over and over and over and over and over? And still nothing? That's abuse.
Well in this case, Jesus was teaching this woman something that she needed to learn. She was a gentile, and he was pointing out to her that while he was around doing ministry, he was focusing on the Jews first ("to the Jew first and also to the Greek" Romans 1:16).
He was showing her the submission and faith that will open her to joining the family, revealing to her she was not yet in that family, though she was close. That's why it says "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to the dogs". He was showing her she had another step of humility to take before his blessing would be made available. And he was surprised by her faith, even being God Himself (as well as a man at the time). He was not calling her a dog, but saying that she hadn't joined the family yet to "get bread with the children" so to speak.
I'm not sure how you got all that from Spurgeon's quote, but I assure you prayer is nothing like that. Like you said about yourself, God also teaches us what He expects out of us, and he "actually helps us" according to His will and plan.
Would the God of the universe be such a vapid and childish creature like you have spelled out in your comment? Perhaps you're missing the point.
I hope that makes sense, I mean no offence and only am trying to clear up misunderstanding. Peace and God bless.