Dogs Eat Crumbs

I was reading a fellow writer's dialogue and I came across an interpretation of a scripture I have pondered for some time.

(Mar 7:26-28) Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

When Christ was approached by this woman, he was reaffirming His call to the Jews, but was confronted with a woman who understood more than His mission. She knew His character. She knew Jews saw Gentiles as dogs, yet she believed even more that Jesus was God and therefore personified His mercy and love for all people. I wonder what she experienced and learned to have come to know this. Obviously, she had truly eaten of the crumbs of the table of the Jews enough to have fallen in love with God's glory and power.

Moreso, this scripture illustrates the nature of the Gentiles approach to God. They, like dogs, acted on instinct and not the Law. This could be looked upon favorably or not so favorably. On one hand, what better people for God to "inscribe His laws on their hearts," for they were not trapped in the Law. On the other hand, Jesus respected the Law and its intent, to show the sheer depravity within us through sin. Jesus was reproving and praising at the same time.

In the now, let's be reminded that knowledge of God's character is supreme to our walk of faith. The world, maybe even God, will challenge us as we strive to live a life not characterized by the norm or standards of man.

Thank you, Lord, for your redemptive work. Thank you for making the message clear to us that all people are welcome to partake of your laws and blessings.

--

Let's take this a bit further tonight. Think on who was rich in God and who was poor. The religious of the day, Pharisees, had God's law and God's presence in their temple. But, take a look at this scripture, and be reminded of God's judgment upon the rich man (in hell in torment).

"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.
(Luke 16:19-21)

Could Christ have been reproving the religious as well by delivering this woman's daughter? Her example is profound in that God's message was always the same. He always welcomed the penitent and devout to His table, throughout scripture. The religious of the day withheld a precious message to those Gentiles who came to "eat crumbs" from their blessed table of abundance. I imagine God's plan for Israel far exceeded simply bringing the Law, that even before His plan for Christ, Israel was to be a nation set as an example for bringing even more children into God's kingdom. Imagine Christ's dissapointment and fathom God's redemption in light of this!