There’s Healing in the Crumbs

Scripture: A woman came and knelt before him, and with an urgent cry, “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes, it is Lord, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table,” she said. Then Jesus said to her. “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment; (Matt. 15:25-28 NIV).

The Syrophoenician Woman

The woman remains nameless to this day. We know that she was a Canaanite woman, who came before Jesus pleading for mercy. Her daughter was being tormented from a demon that had possessed her body.

The disciples had no pity for the woman, so they requested that Jesus send her away. They saw her as being less than a dog; and unworthy to partake of the Lord’s Supper because she was outside of the covenant.

Jesus took pity on the woman, He saw the devastation in her eyes, and felt her suffering. He knew that she needed deliverance for her daughter right away.

We aren’t told the length of time that the demon harassed her. I imagine that the demon was trying to kill her, because the Bible confirms that the enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; (John 10:10). This woman had a critical need for Jesus’ help.

She knew that the children (Israel), where the heirs of the kingdom. She was well aware that the Jews had no dealings with the Gentiles, but because of her radical faith and her great need for a miracle, she by passed the name calling, the opinions of others, and she pressed her way to get to Jesus. Only to hear Jesus say, “Healing is the children’s bread”, meaning healing belongs to Israel alone.

However, His reply brought validity to her statement, “Lord, even the dogs eat the crumbs”, she replied. Not that she felt as though she was less than a dog, but she used a simile to make a very important point, that even the dogs received a portion from its master’s table.

Perhaps, this woman had made several loaves of bread in her lifetime, and was familiar with the process. She knew every ingredient that it took to make the bread. She knew that the same ingredients that made the bread, were the same ingredients that the crumbs were made of. She knew that just one crumb from the loaf of bread that Jesus spoke of, would be enough to heal her daughter. The woman had relentless faith!

I must enlighten you, the girl was not with her mother, and we weren’t told where she was. It’s likely that the demon prevented her from making the trip to see Jesus. But that didn’t stop Jesus, He knew exactly where she was and He knew what condition she was in. Jesus spoke healing and the word traveled to accomplish that in which it was sent to do. Then He told the woman that her daughter was healed. He healed her by the power of His word. Jesus is the Word made flesh!

Because of her faith, the woman received a Two-Fold-Miracle! With God all things are possible; (Luke 1:37). He’s able to do exceeding, abundantly, above all that we ask or think; (Eph. 3:20). And He is still working miracles today!

Just in case you’ve forgotten, let me remind you that you are a MIRACLE! God formed you in your mother’s womb and He watch over you while you were in there. You were intentionally made, formed, and created by God. Never doubt the power of our Omnipotent God. He made everything and He upholds everything by the power of His word. He’s able to heal you everywhere you hurt!

7 Miracles that God does for us every day: