By Deaconess Sarah Longmire
Have you ever felt like an outsider? Perhaps you didn’t get the memo, or you aren’t wearing the right outfit. Or, maybe the whole group is men, and you are the only woman (or vice versa). It can feel like trying to be included or “fit in” can take all of our effort!
At times, it might seem like emulating someone from the Bible will give us help in our own lives. We look at women in the Old Testament, for example, and think, “Oh to have the courage of Esther! And the leadership of Deborah! If I could just trust like Ruth.”
Yet, when we make heroes out of these flawed characters, we miss a lot. To hold up the sinners as the focus of the story instead of God’s message of grace, mercy, and trust misses the great and merciful message that God would have us know. His Word is about His Son, our Savior Jesus, and His saving work for us.
Consider the account about a Canaanite woman in Matthew 15. This woman doesn’t get her name recorded, but it is noted that she is an outsider, an “other.” And yet, God works in and through her. He gives her faith in Jesus and uses her to point to the truth of Jesus.
This woman is serving within her vocation as mother as she falls before Jesus and begs for mercy and for the rescue of her daughter. He responds in verse 26 (ESV):
“It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
It would seem as though Jesus is agreeing to the divide between the Jews and “the others.” And yet, we know from all of Scripture that Jesus came to reconcile—to make right—the relationship between God and all people. In response to Jesus’ comment, the Canaanite woman says (v. 27 ESV), “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
This outsider has been given faith by God and clings to the promises that God has made—even unto her. She, in faith, believes that even a crumb from Jesus is powerful enough and will do what He came to do: Restore that which is broken.
We may be tempted to hold her up and think, “I need to have the faith of an ‘other.’’’ We can indeed rejoice in her faith and ask that God would help us to trust as she trusted. And yet, the focus, her hope, and our hope all rest in Jesus.
In your Baptism, you are made whole and reconciled to God. We, like this Canaanite woman, were outsiders, because of our sin. And yet, we are washed clean in Baptism and given new life. We are restored and made new.
As we consider how we look at people in the Bible and as we consider how we look at those around us, start with Jesus. See the work that He has done through them and the work He is doing through you. And, more importantly, see that we, as sinners, get to cling to His promises for mercy, forgiveness, love, and grace.
Consider the faith that God gave the unnamed Canaanite woman; it is the same faith that He gives in your Baptism. He is faithful in His promises and has given Himself to you, for you, to your neighbor, and to anyone who may feel like an “other.”
This month’s study text:
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman
21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Matthew 15: 21-28 (ESV)
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever felt like an outsider? Have you ever (even unintentionally) caused someone else to feel like an outsider? How does Galatians 3:28 help realign our identity and our love for those around us?
Do you know your Baptism birthday? If not, find out! What do you do to celebrate the day when you were brought into God’s family?
How does remembering that God works through sinners help reshape your reading of Biblical accounts throughout the Bible?
Prayer:
Lord God Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the fulfilled promises that point to the saving work of Jesus for sinners. Thank You that grace, mercy, peace, and forgiveness are for all people, including me. Remind me as I serve in the roles You have given me that I am Your redeemed and Baptized child and that I get to share Your gifts with those around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Deaconess Sarah Longmire serves as the Director of Family Life at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Lee’s Summit, Mo.