23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, “Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

Silence exacerbates deep anguish, and in this case, the woman hollers even more loudly, maybe even obnoxiously. Propriety is not her concern. The disciples were so annoyed at her incessant badgering, they pleaded with Jesus to somehow get rid of her. Such callousness exhibited itself at another time when they (in particular, James and John) wanted to call down judgmental fire from heaven on the inhabitants of a Samaritan village who refused hospitality to Jesus and His entourage (Luke 9:54). Old prejudices die hard and their animosity found little room for compassion for this poor mother of a demon-possessed girl. One can only imagine the horrors that gripped her heart and mind.

At first glance, Jesus appeared to share the disciples’ hardness. But the ensuing discussion puts that notion to rest, because in the end Jesus does show the mercy. But first there is a point to be made.

Jesus’ primary ministry was focused on the Jews first and then the Gentiles. That priority was established in the promise to Abraham, to bless him and his descendents and then to bless the whole world through them (Gen 12:1-3). It was confirmed by the Apostle Paul as well, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16). If Jesus freely responded to all requests from the Gentiles for blessings that were to go first to the Jews, the master plan of salvation would have gone awry. His showing mercy to a Gentile during this rare foray outside of Israel necessitated a reinforcement and clarification of that principle. The woman’s only hope of any mercy from God could only be found in God’s solution of reaching first the Jews, and then through them the Gentiles. So at this point she had no claim on Jesus or the blessing of God. Jesus’ initial silence was intended to make all parties aware of that—and thereby demonstrate that His mercy, when it was given, was truly given freely. This would be far above and beyond the original promise to Abraham and his descendants, but yet based on that promise. God would bless Gentiles in certain situations even apart from the Jews. Now, during the “Church age,” God continues to bless non-Jewish believers, even though Israel still remains outside of God’s redemption.

Fortunately the story does not end with Jesus’ initial rebuff of the woman. But nothing can thwart God’s sovereign plan—the higher purpose is never lost.

Lord, thank You that You are not controlled by the “tyranny of the urgent,” even when You are silent during my crisis issue of the moment.