Fred noticed a bouquet of flowers lying on a co-worker’s desk.  “Who are the flowers for?” Fred asked.  “My wife,” was the co-workers reply.  “I bring her flowers every couple of weeks.  It has really kept the spark in our marriage.”  Realizing it had been a long time since he had brought flowers to his wife, Fred decided to buy flowers for Mildred on his way home from work that evening.

Pulling into the driveway, Fred straightened his tie, walked to the front door with the flowers, and with a foolish grin on his face, rang the doorbell. Mildred answered the door as she was wiping her hands on her apron.  She took one look at Fred, the grin, and the flowers and sarcastically exclaimed, “Oh that just makes my day!  Junior got suspended from school today for fighting.  Your dog dug up the neighbor’s flowers, again.  The washing machine broke. And now, you come home drunk!”

In love, as so often in life, our actions don’t always receive our intended results.  I wonder if that thought went through the mind of the Syrophenician woman as she sought after Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter.  Her story is recorded in both Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark’s gospel chapter 7:24-30.  And like many of the gospel stories, you need to read both accounts to get the full picture of what was happening in this woman’s life.

Here is the background to the story.  Jesus and his Disciples are near the borders of Tyre and Sidon.  They are on the very edge of Israeli territory.  Sidon is the major city-state of Syria and would be in modern day Lebanon, north and west of Upper Galilee.  Sidon is one of the two major seaports of Phoenicia.  In fact, Mark tells us that Jesus left Galilee where he had been ministering and went into a house in this Canaanite region so no one would know he was there. (Mark 7:24)  But he could not be hidden.  A Canaanite woman from the same area found out Jesus was near and came to him.  Matthew says she “cried unto him, have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David: my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.”  (Matthew 15:22)

Here is a direct and desperate presentation of a real need by a distraught mother.  But what is fascinating is the response of Jesus.  Matthew observes: “But he answered her not a word.” (Matthew 15:23)  Not a word, Jesus?  This doesn’t sound like the compassionate shepherd.  It doesn’t sound like the Son of God – full of mercy and grace.  Why the silent treatment?  Didn’t Jesus care about this woman’s great need?

The answer of course is yes – Jesus cared.  Jesus even tells us to cast our cares upon him for he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7)  But his reason for keeping quiet this time is – as it is with all of the scripture – so we will have an example for our education and edification.  Have you ever had a need that only God could meet?  Have you ever sincerely and seriously prayed for an answer only to find the Heavens shut and God silent?  You pray and weep and travail, yet there is no answer to your situation.  You even fast and pray.  Still no response from Jesus.  You believe he can; you just don’t understand why he seemingly won’t.  It is for these times in your life, that Jesus answered not a word to this woman.  He is going to teach us something very important about great faith.

Great faith is not deterred by God’s silence.  Yet God’s silence stops some people from praying through.  They have come to believe in an instant, microwave religion.  They have a ‘I want patience, God and I want it right now’ mentality.  When they hear no immediate response to their petition, they conclude the answer must be no.  Or, God does not care.  They fail the test.

The proof of effective prayer is not how fast God answers it. It is in knowing that God always hears.  The effective, intense, non-wavering and fervent prayer of a righteous man (who shows his faith and right-standing in God by fervent prayer) avails much. (James 5:16) The real question for us is whether God’s immediate silence will stop us from believing God will meet our need.  Will we give up?

That is what Jesus wants to show us in this story.  He saw great faith in this woman and knew she would be the perfect example to strengthen our faith during the silent seasons as we face our trials today.

Jesus is always concerned about our faith.  Jesus’ conversation with Peter illustrates the point.  “Satan has demanded to sift you like wheat,” Jesus told Peter.  “But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:31-32)  Notice, Jesus didn’t tell Peter he would rebuke Satan, bind Satan, or take authority over him to prevent Satan from attacking Peter.  Jesus could have easily done any of the three; but instead Jesus let Peter know that he was praying for Peter’s faith.  Jesus wasn’t worried about Peter surviving the attack.  Jesus knew Peter would survive.  But he was concerned what the attack would do to Peter’s faith.  And Jesus is always concerned about your faith.  It is why the armor of God includes a shield of faith to deflect fiery darts and not a bazooka to take out the attacker. (Ephesians 6:16)

Next time will delve into this woman’s story to reveal her great faith.  But for now, what would you do in her circumstances?  Would you give up praying, if he answers you not a word?  Or will you persevere in prayer?

Just something to think about as you walk down the rabbit trail.