[Reflection] Reasoning with God

Who are we to reason with God? Am I even suggesting that we can even have the ability to 'outsmart' God in logic and reasoning that He would, in all His wisdom, grant us what we request by mere argument? Yet, it has been shown to us that this is indeed one of the ways He wants to engage with us.

In Matthew 15:21-28, we meet a Canaanite woman who reasons with Jesus Christ. I must add firstly that there are many things you can learn, analyse or take away from this passage. To some, it may even seem slightly unlike of Christ, considering His initial response which seemed to hint of racial discrimination - contrary to His intended ministry to all (Jews & Gentiles alike). But I shan't even bother to talk about those things; perhaps it'll come to light further down this piece anyway. The point I'm making here is essentially on 'reasoning with God'.

The Canaanite woman came looking for Jesus because her daughter had been demon-stricken. She pleads for Him to heal her daughter, but He refused and ignored her. When His disciples asked Him to turn her away, He replied, rather bluntly (if I were to crassly put it), that He came for the Jews, not the Canaanites such as her. (You will probably understand this if you have some knowledge of the history and background from the OT regarding the Israelites and Canaanites.) He even goes on to refer to her and her race as 'dogs', that it is not right to take the children's bread to toss to dogs.

The next part of the narrative is rather shocking, not that the first wasn't shocking to us already. The Canaanite woman rebutted with all humility, persistence and desperation, " 'Yes, Lord,' she said, 'but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.' " Jesus then made a 180-degree turn on His prior decision, and commends her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." and her daughter was healed at that very instant.

Shocking? To me, initially, yes. But really, this is not new of Jesus to do such a thing; and, in fact, He still does it with all of us. He places stumbling blocks in front of us, to serve as obstacles and hurdles, for one sole reason: to test our faith. Did you think for a moment that our God did not know what she would say? Did you really think for a moment that our God rejected her based on race - if it were so, we wouldn't be Christians today, would we? Did you really think that the Canaanite woman 'outsmarted' God? Absolutely not.

It was all as He expected and planned. He was testing the Canaanite woman. He was going to let the Canaanite woman reason with Him, and He was definitely going to use this moment for His glory, and to reveal something about Him that is little revealed before - that He would listen to our reasoning and He would give it to us.

This is what I call "holy argument" - and many Biblical heroes of faith have done it, serving as advocates (lawyers) who presented their case before the Judge; Abraham in Sodom, Moses many a times, Elijah at Carmel. Even the story of the centurion at Capernaum (Matthew 8:5-13) showed a form of 'reasoning' with God.

What does this mean for us ? It means that in our prayers and petitions, in our desperation and frustrations, we can plead to God with holy argument, and He will listen; not only will He listen intently, He will grant us our petitions if it be His will. And perhaps, sometimes, it is that which He desires of us - utmost absolute faith and a desperation that is turned only unto Him.

Struggle and wrestle with Him if you should need to; perhaps it is what He wants of you right now.