Overcoming Objections

11.23.11

Matthew 15.27 27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” NIV

You have to read the whole story in Matthew 15 to understand the conversation between the woman and Jesus. The woman, a foreigner to the Jews, had a daughter who was demon-possessed. The woman came desperately to Jesus seeking help and when she did, Jesus told her, “No.” The conversation that ensued is remarkable and the woman’s persistence is remarkable: she was convinced that her only Hope was the Lord Himself.

As the two conversed it became clear that the woman wasn’t going to settle for any of Jesus’ objections. And here’s the kicker: When Jesus said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”, she said, “Yes, it is Lord,” [because] “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” His objection was her objection: Yes, it is Lord. She didn’t agree and say, No, Lord, You’re right, it’s not. She said, Yes, it is Lord.

The basis of the whole conversation centered on why the woman showed up in the first place, she was desperate and willing to go to this Jew to ask for help. She recognized His miraculous power from afar despite the fact that His own people didn’t from up close. She wasn’t a Jew and that’s what made it so hard for her. Why she got what she wanted was because of her faith, and she was willing to tell the Lord, Yes, it is. When He said it isn’t right, she popped right back, yes, it is; and what I think she meant was: because the children don’t seem to care that the bread-crumbs are eaten by their pets. And her argument was: all I’m asking for is a crumb!

What I see here is someone who saw things (like we all seem to do) with some sense of fairness: she had no idea she’d be turned down. She came to Jesus fully expecting to get what she asked for just because she asked; she wasn’t expecting a rebuff. But when she got told no, she fought to get what she wanted – she became persistent. I think Jesus was going to give her what she wanted all along, but I think by His questioning, He drilled down into her heart to see what was really there. What He found was great faith.

The oddity of the story is where Jesus always seemed to find great faith: in the hearts of those who were not born Jewish (a Roman Centurion and this Canaanite woman) or in the hearts of those who were outcasts because of their infirmities and distresses (a woman with vaginal bleeding, lepers, blind men, the demon-possessed, paralytics). In the “normal” folks all He usually found was unbelief, superstition, legalism, heresy, and apathy. At this point in His ministry even His own disciples were seemingly very confused at best.

I think what really appeals to me, is the woman’s courage in persistence. She held her ground when many would’ve turned away. God loves persistence because it can show what’s in a person’s heart. It’s not that He doesn’t know – it’s that the person who comes to Him needs to see the outcome of faith and persistence. If there’s a way to score points with God it could be through faithfully persisting, and overcoming His objections… just saying.