Animals of the Bible
7. The Dog – Living Humbly
“The dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from
their masters’ table”
(Matthew 15:27)
Image: © FreeFoto.com
The dog is an animal which we all know well, whether we live in the town or the country. Perhaps you are growing up in a home where a dog is kept, for they are popular as pets. Sometimes the dog will live outside in its own house or ‘kennel’. You will see people exercising their dogs along the road or in the park. If you are older then it may be your duty to take your family’s dog for its daily walk.
What an amazing variety there is among dogs! They differ in size, shape, colour and character. At one end of the size range there is the Great Dane, first bred in Germany, which may weigh a hundred pounds and is three feet tall at the shoulder. At the other end there is the Chihuahua, originally from Mexico, which is just a few pounds in weight and a few inches in height.
Dogs can be placed in groups according to their particular temperament. There are working dogs such as huskies, herding dogs such as collies, hunting dogs such as foxhounds, sporting dogs such as retrievers and toy dogs such as poodles. All of these may be kept as pets although some are clearly more suitable than others.
With all this variety one might be tempted to think that there was little in common between the different types of dog. That would be a great mistake. There is some variation of colour and character within every litter of dogs, just as with other animals, but the great variety in size and shape seen today is in fact the result of breeding by man.
In animals which he has tamed or ‘domesticated’ man seeks through breeding to encourage those features which he finds beneficial. God gave man as his image-bearer dominion over every living thing (Gen.1:28) and men are simply making use of the potential for variety which God placed within each “kind” at the creation. This is not the evolution of species of which so many speak! For all their variety dogs remain just that – dogs!
There are now several hundred recognised breeds of dog. Some have very special uses. The police use Alsatians for tracking because of their keen senses of hearing and smell. Labradors are trained as guide dogs for the blind because of their placid, docile nature.
Dogs seem to have a special relationship with man which differs from that of any other animal. A well-trained dog is a delight to its owner and a companion for life. But there is more we can learn from the dog, for it is mentioned in the Bible. There are three lessons for us from our text.
Firstly the dog is dependent. Living as it does under a man’s roof it is under his care too. It looks to its owner for its daily food. Without the kindness of man the dog will surely starve and perish.
We must understand that we are dependent upon the Lord for everything. He it is who “giveth food to all flesh” (Psa.136:25). The same is true with the things of our soul. This is the great lesson we learn from the woman of Canaan who spoke the words in our text. She had an awful burden: her daughter was troubled with an evil spirit. There was only One who could help her. She had put her trust in Jesus as the Messiah and so she turned to him, crying, pleading and worshipping him. We too ought to bow down before the Lord and seek His grace.
Secondly the dog is obedient. It knows that its owner is also its master. If it is to prosper and enjoy a peaceful life then it must submit to his authority, doing whatever he commands. Then it will receive the best things its master has to give.
The Canaanite woman honoured the Lord but he appeared to dismiss her with his words. She was not a Jew: Gentile dogs could hardly have a right to the mercy which was meant for the children of the covenant! To hear this would turn most people away but this woman was taught of God. She was not coming to Christ out of any proud sense but because of her sense of need! She was not looking for a great portion but simply for a crumb! Anything that the Lord would grant her would be precious.
This is the way we are to live, “clothed with humility” (1Pet.5:5). If we were to have from the Lord what we deserve we would have His wrath and curse because of our sin. How wonderful then that Jesus died on the cross to save sinners! But have you come to God begging for mercy and asking him to pardon you for Jesus’ sake? If he seems to delay his answer, continue to pray and to confess your sin. He is testing the desire of your heart. Remember, he “giveth grace to the lowly” (Prov.3:34).
Finally the dog is content. When it has received its portion it lies down under its master’s table and is satisfied, all the more because what it has it has by gift and not by right. As a result its master has its undying loyalty.
We can imagine how the woman of Canaan felt when Jesus granted her request and healed her daughter. She truly praised the Lord. She knew that she deserved no good thing from him but instead she got a rich blessing.
God’s people are like this. They live humbly here, looking to their Master in heaven, grateful above all things for every undeserved crumb of gospel grace. They are looking forward to a feast one day in their Father’s house. Their first love is for Jesus Christ who washed them from their sins in his precious blood. Are you among them?
