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[Editor's Note: This is part three of a three-part article by Dr. James Barnes]
Look at the response of the woman in v.28 Yes, Lord that is right, I am but a dog but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs. She says yes I am a dog in that I have no right to the covenant promises of Israel. Yes I am a Gentile, yes I am a Canaanite, yes I come from an idol worshipping people, yes I should have been exterminated but I am here and here is my situation so whatever falls off the table, can't I have that? She understands that God has a plan for Israel and that she is not part of that plan. She's not at the table. She is not a Jew. She is not part of the covenant people. She is on the outside looking in. But can't the benefits of Israel spill off to the rest of us? Crumbs from the table. Just a little bit. Notice crumbs come from the same food. It is not a different bread but the same bread. Gentiles do not have another path to God. It is the same message as given to Israel. Gentile salvation is simply the gospel that has flowed from the bounty given to Israel. What great faith on the part of this woman.
So Jesus says to her in v.29, "Because of this answer go your way, the demon has gone out of your daughter." Jesus has control of the demon world. He doesn't have to be present to remove a demon. His power is omnipresent, it is everywhere. v.30 says when the woman got home she found her child lying on the bed, the demon having departed. What a beautiful picture of faith that fights through the barriers of religion, rejects idolatry, humbles itself, is penitent, respectful, and relentless. It is a magnificent story of saving faith.
I can vividly recall my saving faith. I prayed the penitent's prayer over and over again for three days. I wanted a transformation. I wanted to be born again and I would not stop praying until I had evidence that I was a new man. I prayed Father you promised in the Bible that if I placed my faith in your Son you would save me and change me. And on that 3rd day I got up with a peace I had never experienced before. A hope that I never had before. And a tremendous desire and hunger for the word of God. I knew God had answered my prayer. True faith condemns false religion and exalts the truth. True faith condemns the superficial and exalts the persistent. True faith condemns the proud and exalts the humble penitent.
True faith cries help me, Lord, help me. How about you? Are you still trusting in your good works or religion to save you? Have you placed your trust in Christ and Christ alone?
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Dr. James Barnes has pastored the White Memorial Church in Milroy for 25 years. The church is located on 68 S. Main St., Milroy.