January 15th, 2026
by Christopher Slater
by Christopher Slater
Readings: Genesis 16, Matthew 15
The Danger of a "Logical" Plan
In Genesis 16, Sarai makes a very logical proposal. She is barren. Her husband is old. They have a servant, Hagar. In the Ancient Near East, it was a culturally accepted practice to use a servant to produce an heir. It made sense. It was practical. It was efficient.
And it was a disaster.
Sarai’s plan was a "flesh" solution to a "spirit" problem. She looked at the deadness of her own womb and assumed God needed a workaround. The result was rivalry, bitterness, and a broken family dynamic that Abram would have to manage for the rest of his life. It stands as a permanent warning to us: Just because a plan is logical does not mean it is faithful.
Contrast Sarai’s "take charge" attitude with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15.
Like Sarai, this woman has a desperate family problem (a demon-oppressed daughter). But unlike Sarai, she has no resources, no status, and no "Plan B." She comes to Jesus, and initially, He gives her silence. Then, He gives her a theology lesson that sounds like a rejection: "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
If Sarai were there, she might have said, "Fine, I'll find another way." But the Canaanite woman stays. She doesn't try to bypass Jesus; she presses into Him. "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Jesus marvels at her faith. Sarai tried to manipulate God’s promise; this woman trusted God’s character. Sarai wanted control; this woman wanted mercy.
Redeemer Family, we are often tempted to run our lives, our businesses, and even our church by "Sarai logic." When things get hard or growth is slow, we look for the quick fix, the new technique, the cultural workaround. But Jesus calls us to the posture of the Canaanite woman—tenacious dependence.
True faith isn't figuring out a way around the obstacle; it's waiting on the only One who can move it.
Prayer for the Day:
Lord, we confess that we hate waiting. We are addicted to efficiency and solutions. When You seem silent, we are prone to make our own plans, just like Sarai. Forgive us for trusting our schemes more than Your timing. Give us the humility of the Canaanite woman, to be content with even the crumbs of Your grace, knowing that a crumb from Your table is worth more than a feast of our own making. Amen.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Genesis 16: Sarai blamed the Lord for her situation ("The Lord has prevented me from bearing children"). When you hit a roadblock, does your heart tend to blame God or trust Him?
2. Matthew 15: Jesus says that "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person." In times of stress (like Sarai faced), what comes out of your mouth? What does that reveal about your heart?
3. The Canaanite woman was willing to be called a "dog" if it meant getting Jesus. Is your pride preventing you from asking for help or admitting you are desperate for grace?
The Danger of a "Logical" Plan
In Genesis 16, Sarai makes a very logical proposal. She is barren. Her husband is old. They have a servant, Hagar. In the Ancient Near East, it was a culturally accepted practice to use a servant to produce an heir. It made sense. It was practical. It was efficient.
And it was a disaster.
Sarai’s plan was a "flesh" solution to a "spirit" problem. She looked at the deadness of her own womb and assumed God needed a workaround. The result was rivalry, bitterness, and a broken family dynamic that Abram would have to manage for the rest of his life. It stands as a permanent warning to us: Just because a plan is logical does not mean it is faithful.
Contrast Sarai’s "take charge" attitude with the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15.
Like Sarai, this woman has a desperate family problem (a demon-oppressed daughter). But unlike Sarai, she has no resources, no status, and no "Plan B." She comes to Jesus, and initially, He gives her silence. Then, He gives her a theology lesson that sounds like a rejection: "It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."
If Sarai were there, she might have said, "Fine, I'll find another way." But the Canaanite woman stays. She doesn't try to bypass Jesus; she presses into Him. "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."
Jesus marvels at her faith. Sarai tried to manipulate God’s promise; this woman trusted God’s character. Sarai wanted control; this woman wanted mercy.
Redeemer Family, we are often tempted to run our lives, our businesses, and even our church by "Sarai logic." When things get hard or growth is slow, we look for the quick fix, the new technique, the cultural workaround. But Jesus calls us to the posture of the Canaanite woman—tenacious dependence.
True faith isn't figuring out a way around the obstacle; it's waiting on the only One who can move it.
Prayer for the Day:
Lord, we confess that we hate waiting. We are addicted to efficiency and solutions. When You seem silent, we are prone to make our own plans, just like Sarai. Forgive us for trusting our schemes more than Your timing. Give us the humility of the Canaanite woman, to be content with even the crumbs of Your grace, knowing that a crumb from Your table is worth more than a feast of our own making. Amen.
Questions for Reflection:
1. Genesis 16: Sarai blamed the Lord for her situation ("The Lord has prevented me from bearing children"). When you hit a roadblock, does your heart tend to blame God or trust Him?
2. Matthew 15: Jesus says that "what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person." In times of stress (like Sarai faced), what comes out of your mouth? What does that reveal about your heart?
3. The Canaanite woman was willing to be called a "dog" if it meant getting Jesus. Is your pride preventing you from asking for help or admitting you are desperate for grace?
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