Matthew 1:18-24 NIV
“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.”
When I think of Joseph, I think integrity. It’s the first word that pops into my mind. Joseph’s thought of quietly divorcing her speaks to that. He could have turned her over to the authorities for her to be stoned. But instead, he chooses to quietly divorce her. In doing this, he would be allowing her and her child to live.
God sent another angel to share His message. He tells Joseph that she is carrying the Messiah. He is also saying that God has chosen Joseph to be His Son’s adoptive dad. Joseph would raise the Son of God. Joseph would teach Him things a father teaches a son. He would do this with the knowledge that his son is the Son of God.
Before God created the world, He had a redemptive plan for His people. Part of that plan included a humble carpenter to raise His Son.
What can we learn from Joseph? Following God’s plan may not fit what others might have in mind for us; it may boggle the mind of logic. Joseph’s peers may have thought he was crazy to marry Mary. But they did not understand what He did. He was obedient and what a blessing he received. Be obedient regardless of how foolish you may look, God has a blessing in store for you.
