We are obsessed with dogs! Have you noticed how many different breeds there are these days. Labradoodles, Finnish Spitz, Xoloitzcuintli, Whippet, Tosa Inu, Sloughi. The list is almost endless. We keep and breed dogs with an obsession. People are very protective of their particular breeds. There are clubs, and conventions, societies and swapmeets. Pedigrees are kept and lineage is carefully monitored. Competitions are held and prizes given. Shots, and special food, grooming fees and obedience lessons, carrying cases and funny hats. Wow, we place tremendous effort and expense on dogs.
But dogs are not revered in other culture and at other times with the same enthusiasm as we do here in the United States. In well over half the world dogs are not the pampered companions that there are here. They are either working dogs or they are the next meal. Dogs allowed to run wild in packs are not very nice toward other creatures.
A non-Jewish woman has come to Jesus with a grave concern. Her daughter is under the influence of a demon, and she wants the influence to stop. She is not getting straight A’s in school, or president of her drama club. It is obvious the demon is ruining her life. We don’t know the specifics, but mom wants the demon gone.
She comes and begs Jesus for help. But Jesus first priority was to His disciples. He had been trying to get away from the crowds in order to spend time with His disciples, but at every turn, people with needs kept showing up. He has now gone out of Palestine to the sea coast in order to find some alone time with His disciples. And this woman shows up.
How does Jesus handle this interruption? He uses an illustration that this woman would easily understand. We hear it as offensive, at least I did. Jesus calls her a dog! But this doesn’t phase this woman. The children at the table get first dibs on the food. She gets this. Jesus’ disciples are the priority, but she has needs too. She doesn’t want to take Jesus away from the time with His disciples, but she still has a grave need. She will settle for crumbs. She knows her place and is happy with crumbs. Crumbs will meet her need.
It can be hard for us to be humble, to know our place. We live in an entitled society, where we are owed all sorts of things, from healthcare to a living wage. We deserve hell! But the LORD intervened and now we can have the crumbs of heaven. They will meet our need. One day we will sit at the table for the full banquet. Right now we only get a small sample of what heaven will be like. One day we will experience it all.
The Arnold Journey 