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T H E K IN G ’ S BU S INE SS
“ MY GIRLS”
By Mrs. H. J. Baldwin.
T WO small boys were busy at play. Every now and then one or the other would look up and say, “ Please, Mamma, give me something to eat?” But immedi ately 1 they were lost again in play. After they had asked several times the father almost rebukingly asked the mother why she did riot give them to eat. She replied that they weren’t; really hungry, and to give to them now would mean that they would take a bite and throw the rest away. She could tell when they were hungry and when they were she would give them food. Christ did not at once answer a woman who came'to him. W e will discover why. Christ left Capernaum because of increas ing opposition. The Pharisees objected to His claim, that He the son of a carpenter was the Bread o f Life, and His miracles and kindnesses were misunderstood. The tide o f popularity turned. Even many of His followers deserted Him. To avoid needless controversy, and realizing that His time was limited, and that the disciples needed instruction, Christ withdrew. To what country did He go? (Use map). Tyre and Sidon were flourishing towns, capitals of Phoenecia, perhaps thirty miles distant from Capernaum. It will add inter est if you remind the girls that it was the people o f Phoenicia who invented let ters, thus making learning and literature possible to all the world. The citizens though commercial, were pagan Canaanites. It appears .that Christ did not go to them for the purpose o f giving them the gospel. Who came to Christ as soon as He had crossed the border into this Gentile terri tory? Christ could not be hid. He never can. He always seems to draw the broken hearted and needy to Him. This mother was burdened for her daughter. Evil spirits often caused their victims to fall into fire or water, to foam and gnash with the teeth, to be wild and vicious. This
woman was a foreigner and a heathen, but her mother-love for her needy child overcame all obstacles. She didn’t half-heartedly ask Christ. She fell “at His feet” and “besought Him.” Christ’s attitude and words are hard tq understand. They seemed almost heartless, like the mother not heeding her boy ask ing for food, did we not know that it would be impossible for Christ to be harsh and unkind. Christ used a current prov erb (v. 27). The children were the Jews, while Gentiles were spoken o f as dogs. Christ’s words did not rebuff her but became her hope and life. She in sub stance said. “Yes Lord, I realize I’m «not entitled to a child’s portion. I know I am not a Jew, yet “ the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. May I not have just the portion o f a dog. One crumb o f Thy power and grace will cast the devil out o f my daughter. Give me that and 1 am content.” By her belief in Him she crossed the line and became spiritually one o f His own peo ple, and Christ could not help helping her. Christ had tempted her faith to greater efforts much as parents tempt a child to walk alone. We have no record of more triumphant faith than this poor woman’s. The prayer o f the mother saved the daughter. Thousands of China, Africa and India’s daughters are victims o f Satan’s cruelty and oppression. Children are widowed and disgraced through no sin of theirs. Others are married to heathen gods and forced to live lives o f impurity. Couldn’t they be brought out o f the life o f a dog to; take a daughter’s place at the Master’s table if the Christian gjrls of America would pray ? God has promised to answer if we but pray with faith believ ing, and claim the answer expectantly.
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