How a Canaanite woman's faith teaches Nigerians about God's inclusive plan and answered prayers
A religious commentary explains how the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 demonstrated exceptional faith by persistently asking Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter, despite Jesus initially stating he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. The woman's response - acknowledging she deserved only 'crumbs' but insisting even dogs eat those crumbs - moved Jesus to commend her great faith and heal her daughter immediately.
For Nigerian Christians, this story illustrates that faith transcends ethnic boundaries and demonstrates God's willingness to respond to persistent prayer regardless of background. The article connects this to Jesus inaugurating a Gentile ministry as foretold in Isaiah 42:6-7, showing a divine order where the gospel first goes to Jews (who largely reject it), then to Gentiles (who accept it), and finally back to Jews.
The commentary includes personal testimonies of divine provision, recounting how in 1994 the author provided exactly ₦150,000 to fellow Nigerian Kunle Bolodeoku who needed it to fulfill a newsprint contract after declining to pay bribes. The author frames this as evidence that 'God controls everybody, including me, and He controls everything' and that faith makes believers 'a righteous instrument of God.'
The piece concludes that the faith delivered to Christians is 'the mighty power by which we overcome all obstacles and challenges' (1 John 5:4), encouraging readers to trust in God's supernatural provision when walking in righteousness.