They told Moses: “We went into the land to which you sent us.
It does indeed flow with milk and honey, and here is its fruit.
However, the people who are living in the land are fierce,
and the towns are fortified and very strong.
The LORD sometimes allows us to see the power of what we're up against. We realize that our own resources are insufficient.
“We cannot attack these people; they are too strong for us.”
The Canaanite woman knows that she is powerless to help her daughter.
My daughter is tormented by a demon.
But the responses of Israel and the Canaanite woman provide an important contrast. The Israelites surrender themselves to despair:
At this, the whole community broke out with loud cries,
and even in the night the people wailed.
In giving up on their trust in the LORD they surrender their claim on his fatherly protection. It is like in the Golden Calf incident when the LORD starts referring to the children of Israel as the people of Moses rather than calling them 'my people.' This breaks the LORD's heart. But if they won't trust in him for protection he won't force them.
Thus you will realize what it means to oppose me.
I, the LORD, have sworn to do this
to all this wicked assembly that conspired against me:
here in the desert they shall die to the last man.”
This is very different from the response of the Canaanite woman. She knows she has no power to heal her daughter. When she meets the One whom she believes has that power he discourages her. But she does not let this stop her.
But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He challenges both Israel and this woman precisely because he wants them to take their faith to the next level. Israel doesn't succeed, and is only saved by Moses.
Then he spoke of exterminating them,
but Moses, his chosen one,
Withstood him in the breach
to turn back his destructive wrath.
But this woman does not back down with her faith.
She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters.”
Israel slips and nearly loses the protection that comes from being the people of their God. And this woman gains that very protection even though she is a Canaanite. Faith is paramount!
Let us cry out in complete trust, knowing that we share that same fatherly protection:
Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.
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