E17 - GOD's Goodness - Is GOD Biased? Part 2 of 3

Hope's Harbor Podcast - Gritty Bible Devotions

Many people wonder if God is biased and doesn't care about other people besides Christians. And then, Jesus once told a woman from Canaan that He wasn't sent to help her daughter because she was not of Israelite descent. And I wonder what does GOD have to say about it?
For full show notes go to hopesharbor.net
Hope’s Harbor Gritty Bible Devotions

Episode #17 Title: GOD’s Goodness - Is God Biased?

Date: July 26, 2021

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Key verse(s): Matthew 15:24 – ‘But he answered and said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”’

Intro: Why did Jesus tell this mom He was not sent to help her, but only the people of Israel?

When I wrote that question as part of the episode notes, I intended to write about why Jesus said what He did in Matthew 15:24.

But then I hesitated and wondered, what does the Lord have to say about it.

So I prayed, asking Him. Now, I don’t hear GOD’s voice actually, but it’s more like an impression upon or thought in my mind that sometimes I attribute to GOD.

It’s difficult to tune out previous teachings I’ve heard or read previously concerning this passage, but I’m going to try.

This episode has the results from that time in prayer.

Devotion focus: Is GOD biased?

· - Matthew 15:21-28

Matthew 15:21 – ‘Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

Matthew 15:22 – ‘And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is demon-possessed.”

Matthew 15:23 – ‘But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries out after us.”

Matthew 15:24 – ‘But he answered and said, “I was not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Matthew 15:25 – ‘Then came she and worshipped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

Matthew 15:26 – ‘But he answered and said, “It is not good to take the children's bread, and throw it to the little dogs.”

Matthew 15:27 – ‘And she said, “Yes, Lord: yet the little dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.”

She literally said, “Truth, Lord.” From the Strong’s concordance, it means ‘Yes, even so…’

Matthew 15:28 – ‘Then Jesus answered and said unto her, “O woman, great is your faith: let it be to you as you desire. And her daughter was healed from that very hour.”’

There are several lessons contained in this passage. The first I see is Jesus’ reputation preceded Him to this foreign region.

When the woman in this account heard Jesus was close by she sought Him out.

And here is where the Lord led me in answer to my request He reveal an answer to the question of whether He is biased against those not of the Jewish people.

While studying this passage in e-sword.net, a Bible study program, a corresponding commentary off to the side of the page caught my eye.

Listen to a description of this passage in Matthew 15, from that commentary:

I’m going to paraphrase a little for ease of understanding denoted by ( ):

· “It is important to realize that this woman was not a Jewess, but a Gentile. She was descended from the Canaanites, an immoral race which God had marked for extinction. Through Israel's disobedience, some had survived the invasion of Canaan under Joshua, and this woman was a descendant of the survivors. As a Gentile, she did not enjoy the privileges of God's chosen earthly people. She was (a foreigner), having no hope. (In that position) she had no claim on God or the Messiah.<

Show notes at HopesHarbor.net