𝚋𝚢 𝙰𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚖𝚗 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚎𝚛 | 11/11/24

*“Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, ‘Send her away; for she crieth after us.’ But he answered and said, ‘I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ Then came she and worshipped him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ ***But he answered and said, ‘It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.’ And she said, ‘Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.’ Then Jesus answered and said unto her, ‘O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt.’ And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:21-28)

This is a portion I've heard a lot; from church sermons, to devotions, to conferences, and truth be told you're probably familiar with it as well. But sometimes I hear something so much, that I sorta just move on and keep reading the next verses or chapters.

One thing that's stood out to me as I have re-read this recently, is Jesus not speaking to the women immediately. This women showed great humility in coming to Jesus; calling Him Lord, and asking Him to heal her daughter. She wasn't even asking for herself to be healed, she was asking on behalf of her daughter. I'm not a mother but I know the love a mother has for a child is like no other.

Her pleas... they seem to be falling on deaf ears. No one was hearing her, the disciples seem to be getting annoyed at her constant nagging and cries of plea. If Jesus won't answer her, why in the world should she even stay? These are disciples are followers with Jesus they see him everyday yet they want to send her away??

Why was Jesus silent?

This is a question I ask myself sometimes but in this particular passage, here's 3 reasons I think Jesus was silent to this lady.

1. Testing Her Faith: Sometimes, God allows silence in our lives to test the depth and strength of our faith. In this instance, the Canaanite woman’s persistence becomes a testament to her unshakable belief that Jesus can heal her daughter, despite the apparent rejection. In her silence, she doesn’t retreat; instead, she presses in, calling out again and again. The silence, then, isn’t rejection—it’s an invitation to press deeper into faith.

2. Teaching the Disciples: The disciples, annoyed by the woman's cries, represent the narrow view of God's mission. Jesus’ response to them is instructive: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel." Jesus is highlighting the priority of His mission to Israel, yet He also uses this moment to stretch His disciples' understanding of who the kingdom of God is for. It’s not just for the Jews—it’s for all people, even those outside Israel. Jesus’ silence serves to deepen the disciples’ understanding of God’s inclusive love and plan for the world.

3. Inviting Humility and Persistence: Jesus eventually tells the woman, "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs." This statement, though rather blunt, is not meant to insult her; instead, it highlights the cultural barriers between Jews and Gentiles. The woman’s response is astonishing in its humility: "Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." She acknowledges the truth of His words but, with great humility, shows her willingness to accept even the smallest blessing from Him.

Yes, Jesus was silent and didn't answer her immediately, but that does NOT mean He didn't hear her. He did, He heard her loud and clear, and even before she asked, I'm sure He knew what she was asking for. But even though, she didn't see the reasons, WHY, didn't mean she gave up. She kept going IN faith.

In our fast-paced, instant-gratification world, we may find it difficult to understand why God sometimes seems silent to our prayers when we feel like we need Him most or to answer right then.  Yet, this passage of scripture about the Canaanite woman teaches us that God's silence is not the absence of His care—it is often the prelude to something greater. His silence is a space for us to grow in faith, to press into His promises, and to trust that His timing is always perfect.

God let Job go through more trials than probably anyone else, but we saw the back part, that Job never saw. Yet he trusted God, and his faith grew stronger because of the circumstances. His faith was rewarded, because he kept trusting God, even when it didn't really make sense.

If you find yourself in a season of silence, don’t give up. Trust that God is still working. Just as He did with the Canaanite woman, He is waiting for your faith to rise—faith that believes He can and will answer, in His way and at His perfect time. And when He does speak, it will be to declare that your faith has been heard, and that His grace is more than sufficient to meet your need.