Article December 5, 2016 Issue

No one is left out of God’s care

Candace Lynch

The story of Jesus’ encounter with the woman from Canaan can seem confusing. Is he ignoring her request for healing for her daughter? As I thought about this years ago, I felt there must be more to understand.

The coastal area of Tyre and Sidon, where this encounter took place, was one of the farthest locations of Jesus’ travels. The woman is described as coming out of those coasts to find him. In Mark’s Gospel she is called a Greek, a Syrophenician, meaning she is not Jewish but heathen (see Mark 7:26).

I found God to be the loving Shepherd who cares for His flock.