The Bible is the inspired Word of God, but sometimes it is an uncomfortable read. The Bible afflicts the comfortable when it calls us to repentance. It is also uncomfortable when God does or says something that does not square with out preconceptions of him. In our passage, a woman comes to Jesus pleading for her daughter. Rather than answer her tenderly and heal the child (as he does elsewhere), Jesus puts the woman off, implying that she has as little right to this healing as a dog has to the children’s food. I find this surprising and a little uncomfortable to read.

When you come to passages that make you uncomfortable, you have two possible reactions. One is to sit in judgment on the Bible and say, "The Bible must be wrong. If God is like that, then I want nothing to do with him." This is a dangerous way to approach the Word of God. It will not lead to healing or life.

There is another response you can have when what you read of God in the Bible does not fit your preconception of God. It is this: "Lord, I know you are good, you are love, and you are holy. I don’t know how what I am reading fits with all that. Please lead my faith as it seeks understanding." Remember that you do not sit in judgment on the Word of God. The Word of God judges and sifts you.

The woman who comes to Jesus is a Gentile. She has no claim on Jesus, but she has faith in his power and love for her daughter. This is why she falls at Jesus’ feet and pleads for her girl. Jesus puts her off and answers: First let the children eat all they want, for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs. How does the woman respond? She could have said, "Well if you are going to be that way about it, I’m leaving. You have no right to talk to me that way." That attitude is surprisingly common. Things don’t go my way, my feelings are hurt, God didn’t answer my prayer the way I wanted so I will just walk away from God. What is the end result of that attitude? No healing, no restoration with the Almighty.

From this woman we get insight of how we are to respond when we pray and God gives us an answer that we did not expect. She continues her request. She will not be put off. She humbles herself before Jesus and even used the language Jesus used to continue her request. Yes Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.

The woman does not assert that she is somehow worthy of Jesus’ help. She calls Jesus Lord. She accepts his words that compare her to a puppy. If perchance a crumb might fall from the table, couldn’t the puppy clean it up? For her faith, Jesus heals her daughter at that moment.

This story teaches us about God. We pray for something to happen, for someone to be healed, for financial help to come, etc. Sometimes God answers the prayer in a way that we did not expect. The deliverance did not come when we thought we needed it. The healing did not come, or came in a slow fashion. What are we to think? That God does not love us? That God will not give us the mercy we need in our time of need?

Not so. Jesus answered the woman without encouragement. Did it mean that he would not help her? Did it mean that the grace of God was not available to her? Not at all. She received from God what she needed when she needed it. So don’t you be put off if God’s response to your request seems to be less than what you thought it should have been. God still loves you and will provide for you.

We learn something else about God. His love and grace is bigger than you might think. This woman was beyond the covenant people of God, but she was not beyond God’s mercy. God’s grace throws a wider net than you might think. It reaches out to those who were strangers and enemies of God. God’s grace is bigger still. Don’t think the love of God is unable to extend to anyone.

We learn something about how we are to approach God from this woman. Do not be deterred from asking God for what you need. Continue to pray. Continue to humble yourself at Jesus’ feet. We do not approach the Lord with a resume and references. "Lord, I deserve to be heard by you because—I regularly go to church; I live a good life; I contribute to charities; I am important." When we approach the Almighty, we really have nothing to bargain and barter with.

Those who receive something from Jesus start by falling at his feet. They depend on the mercy of God. They appeal to the character of God. This woman knew that the mercy of God was vast enough for all who came. There was enough for her. Whether she deserved it was not the point. She came, not to barter a deal but to plead for mercy. And she got it.

What is the need in your life and heart? The biggest one you have, whether you know it or not, is to know the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. Have you come to Jesus in the same spirit as this woman? Do you continue to come that way?