"God is always ahead of us"

God is Always Ahead of Us

Scripture Reading — Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith!”

Matthew 15:28

In today’s story Jesus and his disciples were in an area where most of the people did not know or worship God. The disciples were not familiar with the customs and culture and likely would have felt uncomfortable there. Then they met a woman whose daughter was “demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

Jesus’ response to her sounds puzzling. Was he making a point to everyone listening? Was he testing her? He said that as a non-Jewish person, she was not the focus of his ministry. Vs.24 “He was sent to only help God’s lost sheep…the people of Israel. Vs.26 Jesus said, “it’s not right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” So, she was determined to find help for her suffering daughter.

Vs.25 She came and worshiped and pleading again, Lord, help me!” 

She said, in effect, vs. 27 “Whatever crumbs of goodness you are willing to throw to us will be enough.” She said that’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps/crumbs that fall beneath /from their master’s table. Jesus celebrated the woman’s faith and did something amazing… He healed her daughter “at that moment.” Sometimes we think that witnessing is about bringing Jesus into our conversations and relationships. But here we are reminded that God is always ahead of us.

It appears the woman already had an emerging trust that Jesus was her one true hope. To be a witness is to discern and celebrate where God is already at work. Dear God, give us the eyes to see where you are already at work in the places we go today and in our neighborhood. Help us respond faithfully to the good work of your Spirit.