Wednesday, January 15th | Genesis 16 and Matthew 15

Passage:
7 The angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur. 8 And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai.” 9 The angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her.” 10 The angel of the Lord also said to her, “I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude.” 11 And the angel of the Lord said to her, “Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the Lord has listened to your affliction. 12 He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone’s hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen.” 13 So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Truly here I have seen him who looks after me.”
(Genesis 16:7-13 ESV)

21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
(Matthew 15:21-28 ESV)

Song:
O God of Mercy, Hear Our Plea by Brittany Kauflin and Matt Merker, arranged by Hope College

Lyrics:
O God we've seen Your faithfulness
You brought us from the wilderness
But now our faith is frail and weak
O God of mercy hear our plea

When will You comfort our distress
How long until the promised rest
We cry to You from deepest need
O God of mercy hear our plea

Abba Father our Redeemer
In this barren land be our hope and strength
Until glory we will trust and sing
Abba Father hear our plea

We join creation's longing groan
To take Your ransomed children home
For then the eyes of all will see
The God of mercy hears our plea

For then the eyes of all will see
The God of mercy hears our plea

Abba Father hear our plea

Prayer:
Father, what we know not, teach us; what we have not, give us; what we are not, make us; for the sake of your Son our Savior. Amen.
-Old Anglican Prayer