Even the Dogs Deserve Food

Ephesians 6:20 I’m an ambassador in chains for the sake of the gospel. Pray so that the Lord will give me the confidence to say what I have to say. (CEB)

           

The Israelites were God’s special chosen people. God made a covenant between Himself and Abraham that He would make him the father of many nations. Genesis 17:1-2 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless. I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers. (NIV) Despite the barrenness of his wife, Sarah, God promised to give Abraham and Sarah an heir of their own and his descendants would be as countless as the stars. God fulfilled His promise and despite the hardships that had come their way, mostly due to their own rebellion, the Lord blessed the Israelites to populate the earth. 

As part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, He gave the Israelites the land of Canaan. Genesis 17:8 The whole land of Canaan, where you are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God. (NIV) Notwithstanding God’s many blessings upon the Israelites, they continued to rebel against Him and subsequently, was taken into captivity time and time again. Yet, God sent His son, Jesus, to save all mankind from their sins, but even this did not keep them from having a hardened heart when the Savior of the World finally came.

Jesus helped many people during his short time in ministry here on earth. Because God had chosen the Israelites as His special people, the message of salvation was first given to them. Unfortunately, many rejected the message and most importantly the Savior. Matthew 15:24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” (NIV) Therefore, when a Canaanite woman came to Jesus out of desperation to have her demon-possessed daughter healed, Jesus ignored her initially. Despite Jesus’ seemingly coldness towards the woman, she pleaded with Him to help her daughter. Jesus’ finally responded by referring to her as a dog not worthy of a meal. Nevertheless, her response was not of insult, but of pure faith by saying that even dogs received crumbs from their master’s table. Jesus being pleased with the woman’s persistence and faith, granted her request, and the Canaanite woman’s daughter was healed that very hour. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (NIV)

We are just like that Canaanite woman. We are undeserving of God’s grace and mercy. We too would be likened unto dogs, if it were not for God making us heirs to His kingdom. Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (NIV) This is why we can go before the throne of God boldly for we are His sons and daughters with all the rights of natural-born children. Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)

The Apostle Paul lets us know that we can be confident in our stance for Christ before others and also with God. We must be bold just like the Canaanite woman was when approaching the Savior for what we are in need of. We do not have to be afraid of God when we are aligning ourselves up in His will, for He cares for us. There is no good thing that He will withhold from us. All we have to do is be humble, persistent and unyielding in our requests unto Him.

As warriors for Christ, there will be times when we will have to ask our Commanding Officer for supplies. These “supplies” are our prayer requests that we must make known unto the Lord. Does He already know what we are in need of? Yes! However, when we present ourselves unto the Lord and ask Him for what we need, it is an act of humility, active communication, and faith that He will give us the desires of our hearts. God loves to bless His children, especially, when we are acting in accordance to His will and not our own selfish desires. Let us always remember that God is a God of love, covenant, power and great glory. Most importantly, there is nothing that He cannot do, but all we have to do is ask. Matthew 7:7-11 ⁽⁷⁾“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. ⁽⁸⁾For everyone who asks, receives. Whoever seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door is opened. ⁽⁹⁾Who among you will give your children a stone when they ask for bread? ⁽¹⁰⁾Or give them a snake when they ask for fish? ⁽¹¹⁾If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. (CEB)