The Pull of Faith

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.” But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!” Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.” “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed. Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee…. Matthew 15:21-29 (New Living Translation, NLT)

Jesus is quoted as saying that He never did anything unless He saw His Father do it (John 5:19), meaning His actions were directed by God and not based on whim. In this passage we are told that Jesus actually left Jewish territory and went into what is modern day Lebanon. Most of Jesus’ travels were in Israel because His assignment, His mandate, was to visit the Jews first. If Jesus was called to the Jews, why did He specifically leave Israel and travel into Lebanon? Was He just passing through that region? After all, He is recorded as traveling through Samaria once in order to get somewhere else. However, that does not appear to be the case here, because after talking with the woman, He left and returned to Israel, specifically the sea of Galilee. Based on the geography of the area, it appears that Jesus visited Lebanon near the coast (Tyre and Sidon were coastal cities) and then turned around and came back to the sea of Galilee.

As I meditated on this passage of scripture, it became clear to me that Jesus made that particular trip with the purpose of meeting that woman. The Bible does not mention any other healing or ministry that Jesus did while He was there. Why did Jesus go out of His way like that? I believe the Father directed Him to go there because He was drawn by her faith. Jesus Himself told her that her faith was great. The word great in that verse is actually the Greek word megas, where we get the term mega. Jesus was actually telling her, “You have mega faith.” According to Hebrews 11:6, faith is necessary to please God. If God is pleased by faith, then it stands to reason that faith attracts Him.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 (KJV)

As we develop our faith by reading, studying, meditating and hearing the Word, we become like faith magnets. Jesus often told those to whom He ministered healing, “Your faith has made you whole.” Active, strong faith is the key. When we grow our faith, when we have caused faith to arise in our hearts by repeated exposure to the Word of God, we can expect that the Lord will go out of His way to bring us what we seek. That, my friend, is the pull of faith.