Black Women in the Bible.
The Syro-phonecian Woman
MAT 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
MAT 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
MAT 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
MAT 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
MAT 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
Black women have for century bore the heat of the day. Priced as precious commodity ever since the beginning of time, she has been living with the attraction that all races has had for her.
In the early years of the great Cushite Empire, the black woman was desired by the indoEuropean race because she was the means by which they had access to the African thrones. The Africans who were the earliest world rulers had a Matriarchal system where the firstborn child of the sister of the king, would inherit the throne and become Pharaoh. Thus in Africa, Moses was destined to be Pharaoh.
The black woman was sought by Moses, Solomon, David, Nebuchadnezzar and maybe the most famous was Sampson, who saw a beautiful African sister of the Philistine nation in the valley or Sorek, and declared, "She pleases me well". Other cultures were constantly seeking her for mate, and her own men knew her inner strength and integrity, and could not do without her.
Like a prize Jewel, the black woman was constantly in demand. Whenever armies came, the soldiers would climb head over heels to find some lovely black maiden that they could exploit to fulfill their sexual fantasy, if not by choice then by force.
Even God himself was always on the lookout for a virtuous woman. Ever since the fall of Eve, he was constantly checking, surveying, looking, for when the fullness of time was come, God had every intention of sending forth .His first born son, who would tabernacle within the womb of some woman who found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
The African Israeli King Solomon said.
Prov 31:10 (KJV) Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
Prov 31:11 (KJV) The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
Prov 31:12 (KJV) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Prov 31:13 (KJV) She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Prov 31:14 (KJV) She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
Prov 31:15 (KJV) She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
Prov 31:16 (KJV) She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Prov 31:17 (KJV) She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
Prov 31:18 (KJV) She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
Prov 31:20 (KJV) She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Prov 31:21 (KJV) She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
Prov 31:22 (KJV) She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
Prov 31:23 (KJV) Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
Prov 31:24 (KJV) She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
Prov 31:25 (KJV) Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
Prov 31:26 (KJV) She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
Prov 31:27 (KJV) She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Prov 31:28 (KJV) Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
Prov 31:29 (KJV) Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Prov 31:30 (KJV) Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
And Jesus was about to meet such a woman.
Jesus had been working among them for only a year and a half now, but Jesus had grown tired of the insincerity and narrow mindedness of the Jewish leaders and the Jewish people. The Jews were always seeking to find some occasion against Jesus. Mind you, He had committed His life to the salvation of their souls, yet they scrutinized his every word, criticized his every move, and it appears as if they were always seeking to fabricate some reason for displeasure, so they could bring some charge against Him..
Jesus soon grew tired of their foolishness, and with righteous indignation, he cries out:
Mat 15:7-9
Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Blind folks leading the blind folks"
Then in haste he departed from their coast, and entered into the Hametic nation of Zidon and Tyre. There to experience, the "Cry of an African Sister”
As Jesus enters this coastal area, he accosted by a mother whom the scholars call the Syrio Phoenician woman. The bible says it this way.
MAT 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.
MAT 15:22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
The Phoenicians were Canaanites. They were called Phoenicians by the Greeks after the purple die they harvested and market all over the world. According to Genesis 10, Zidon was a Grandson of Ham, who was the father of the African people.
These Phoenicians were similar to the Jews in language and culture. In fact, the ten tribes of Israel had been so absorbed into the Canaanite race, so that no one could tell the distinctions between Israel and the Phoenicians.
The Phoenicians were a tremendously wealthy peopled. They were well aware of all happening in the world. They were world travelers whose trading partners were all the great Nations of the Sea. In their role as entrepreneurs, they discovered Islands and Continents that no civilized Nation had ever seen before.
They knew about Jesus, and his power to make men well. They herd of his ability to cast out demons, and bring back to life dead men. They herd of his power to lift up crippled men and encouraged discourage men. They knew he had a reputation elevated the disenfranchised and make the lost and homeless feel as if they belong. They knew about Jesus.
Then the word spread that Jesus was coming to Phoenicia. Quickly the hasten to where he was, and the bible says they came by the multitude, teeming thousands of black folks, casting down their sick, their lame, their blind, their weak before Jesus. And the Bible says, Jesus healed them all and then fed 4000 of their men folks along with women and children upon the mountainside.
But there was one mother that left a deep impression upon the mind and heart of Jesus. Her cry rang above the maddening crowd that day: Jesus, Jesus, thou son of the living God, have mercy on me.” Jesus, Jesus, thou son of the living God, have mercy on me. Lord she said, have mercy, for my daughter is grievously sick with a devil.
MAT 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
-TI- The Desire of Ages
-PG- 400
Christ knew this woman's situation. He knew that she was longing to see Him, and He placed Himself in her path. By ministering to her sorrow, He could give a living representation of the lesson He designed to teach. For this He had brought His disciples into this region. The partition wall which Jewish pride had erected, shut even the
disciples from sympathy with the heathen world. But these barriers
were to be broken down.
Jesus was caught in a ticklish situation. He had just left his people because of their unbelief, and If he dares to speak to this colored woman, surely word would precede Him to Jerusalem, and the nation and the leaders would be angry. After all, a Jewish Rabbi was too good to associate with the colored folk from Canaan, So the bible said, he answered her not a word.
And the disciples quickly sizing up the situation and thinking Jesus might do something crazy because of this African woman, call out, send her away master, send her away.
It flashed before their eyes that should Jesus stop to give special attention to this Gentile woman, he would defile himself as for as the Jesus were concerned,, and their bread and butter would be gone. No longer could they hope to become leaders in Jerusalem, if Jesus is declared unclean. Send her away, they said.
Jesus responds
Mat 15:24
MAT 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
MAT 15:25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
The word worships means to bow reverently as before a superior.
She bows down before Jesus and worships him as Lord.
He had said, through the prophet Isaiah:
Luke 4:18
Luke 4:18 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
She knew who he was and she would not leave, until her daughter was set at liberty.
Lord, help me.
Like Jacob of old, in her heart she was saying, I will not let you go, until you bless me.
Then Jesus breaks the tradition of the Rabbi.
He recognized this African woman as a part of the lost tribe.
He sees in her someone worthy of His attention, and he wants to know if she recognizes herself as special in Gods eyes.
Mat 15:26
MAT 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
-TI- The Desire of Ages
-PG- 400
Christ did not immediately reply to the woman's request. He received
this representative of a despised race as the Jews would have done. In
this He designed that His disciples should be impressed with the cold
and heartless manner in which the Jews would treat such a case, as
evinced by His reception of the woman, and the compassionate manner
in which He would have them deal with such distress, as manifested by
His subsequent granting of her petition.
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Oh the tremendous insult that black mothers through the ages must endure.
Raped, scorned, abandoned, abused even by the very men, who claim they love them.
In America today, she struggles alone to care for her family, and in some instance, even when she has a man, he shows little appreciation for her commitment and dedications.
She is forced to work outside the home and inside the home.
Many times she is both mother and father.
To be black sometimes can be a tremendous burden.
But God says, to whom much is given, much is expected.
We have come a long way, we African people.
The Early Egyptians claimed their forefather came from the presence of God.
The early Greeks called Africa, the land of the God, and the mighty warriors of Africa God.
Yet the Europeans later called us subhuman, monkeys, one eyed monsters, heathens, gentiles and even dogs.
It seems that ever since the 18th Century, the other races has had nothing but indignation for the people burnt by the rays of the son.
And now looking into the eyes of this African sister, Jesus says, cant take the children’s bread, and give it to the dogs.
MAT 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.
An African man would have clenched His fist, and in rage attacked Jesus.
He would have grabbed him by the throat and seek to choked the very life from him.
A African man would have responded with indignation at such an insult.
His words would have burst upon the atmosphere in cruel hate in reaction to a Jew who dared to embarrass him in public by calling him a dog, but not this mother.
A father would have forgotten his stately African bearing.
He would have rejected his role as elder of the church.
His quick muscles would have moved with urgency to defend his bruised ego and restore his manhood by finding solace in the outstretched body of Jesus lying prostrate on the floor. But not this mother.
She thinks of one thing, and that is her daughter.
There is no pain so great she will not bear it for the freedom and safety of her children.
Because she is mother.
There is no indignity she will not endure for her maternal offspring.
She has learnt thought the years to endure pain others cannot even imagine.
Because she is mother.
She has learnt thought the years to endure abuse, that would take others to their grave.
Because she is mother.
Yes she is as strong as the oak, but flexible enough that her branches will bend not break under the pressure. Because she is mother.
She is as gentle as the breeze, yet strong enough to move mountains, tare down building, and whip the sea into fury.
She is mother and her little girls is home suffering, and she will not leave the presence of this Jesus, until her daughter is recovered.
Is it any wonder, that Solomon asks, who can find a vitreous woman, for her price is far above ruby.
Desire of Ages P. 4.
If she may have the privilege of a dog, she is willing to be regarded as a dog. She has
no national or religious prejudice or pride to influence her course, and she immediately acknowledges Jesus as the Redeemer, and as being able to do all that she asks of Him.
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Lord she cried, It' is true, cant give the dog the children's bread, but will you deny a hungry dog, the ability to eat from the crumb that falls from the children's table.
Lord, she cried, this is no great request I ask.
Lord, for you its a simple thing. One word, Jesus, that all it takes,
You don't have to come to my house,
You don't have to stop your busy schedule,
I am not asking you to leave your people,
you have the power Jesus,
just a crumb from the table Lord, just a crumb, that's all I am asking, just a crumb.
Oh Woman, Jesus, replied, Great is your faith, Be it unto you, even as your soul desire, and her daughter was healed from that very same hour.
Many of us today, like that African sister of old, have various problems.
The people of Bridgeport, both male and female, are struggling with problems.
We are struggling with joblessness and poverty.
We are struggling with cancer and with heart ailments.
We are struggling with troubling children, and struggling marriages.
We are struggling with tithing, and with faithfulness.
We are struggling with drugs, and alcohol.
For many of us, life is heavy, and the world this morning is Jesus is passing our way.
Jesus is coming to our town.
I can see him.
On his throne of glory, with his myriad's of angels.
I can see him.
The crown on his head, the angels by his side,
I can see him,
I see the earthquake, and the great buildings begin to fall.
I see the rich and the famous, running to the rocks and the mountains, saying fall on us.
Hide us from the face of him who sits upon the throne.
I see a sea if fire, as the oceans begin to burn.
I can hear the trump sound.
And I see the graves breaking out.
There are people coming out,
I See the people who believe in God running to him.
Then I see them, those who have sowed in tears.
Those who have remained faithful to God
Desire of Ages.
The same agencies that barred men away from Christ eighteen hundred years ago are at work today. The spirit which built up the partition wall between Jew and Gentile is still active. Pride and prejudice have built strong walls of separation between different classes of men. Christ and His mission have been misrepresented, and multitudes feel that they are virtually shut away from the ministry of the gospel. But let them not feel that they are shut away from Christ. There are no barriers which man or Satan can erect but that faith
can penetrate.
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