Matthew1:19 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. 20 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. 21 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.”
I have been thinking a lot about Joseph over the past week of Advent. He really got a lot more than he bargained for with his choice of Mary for a fiancé and later, his wife. Truly, he had to have loved her dearly.
After the revelation of her pregnancy, Joseph wanted to end the relationship quietly. It says in Matthew that he didn’t want to expose Mary to public disgrace. Rather than feeling rage at her apparent indiscretion, his thought was on what the public reaction would do to her. The intervention of an angel, who confirmed Mary’s divine pregnancy, enabled Joseph to stick with the relationship. Still, it would have been a lot to take in … and, what do you tell the relatives?? Perhaps it was a relief to Joseph and Mary that they needed to travel to Bethlehem for a Roman census. It would have gotten them away from village gossip and prying eyes.
Joseph harkens to the instruction of an angel yet again after the birth of Jesus. With Herod in a rage over the birth of a potential adversary, Joseph takes Mary and the child to Egypt for an undisclosed period of time. The little family became immigrants in a foreign land, essentially on the run from an oppressive and cruel leader.
Joseph’s care for Mary and baby Jesus is a beautiful example of humble reliance on God. … Joseph’s life certainly didn’t go according to his original plans when he sought to marry and create a family in Nazareth, simple aspirations for a hometown carpenter. As he watched the sun set on a day’s work in foreign Egypt, did he ever scratch his head and wonder “how on earth did I get here?”
Joseph’s story is reminder to all of us that life rarely goes exactly according to plan. And sometimes plans can just be thrown out the window! As hard as it is, those are times it’s helpful to rely on our faith the most. God will not fail us! Through Joseph’s story, Christmas can be a reminder to us of God’s provision and sustaining love.
Blessings to each of you this coming week! – Diana
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