Matthew 1:18–25 (ESV) — 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
NOTE: There is a lot left unsaid in these verses. How do you communicate to your family, your friends, your neighbors what has happened? The supposedly pious Joseph and Mary were pregnant, and their defense is that it was a miracle. It would be better not to say anything. Joseph could have protected his reputation by divorcing Mary, but in obedience to God, he does not, thereby allowing the rumors to convict him as well. This was a time in Israel that was much different than today in America. The nation was under oppression by the Romans, much as in Judges, and the story of Judges was that the oppression was the result of following the ways of the world and disobeying the commands of God. This story would have made many in the community angry at Joseph and Mary for failing to do the right thing and wait. Of course, they did wait. Mary's conception was supernatural. Even Joseph did not believe Mary's story, else he would not have considered divorcing her. It took a visitation by an angel in a dream to convince him otherwise. As Jesus said, blessed are those who do not see (his physical presence like the disciple Thomas) and still believe. What is God calling me to believe, and to trust him?
PONDER:
1) Joseph and Mary's lives were probably surrounded by controversy during much of the early years. God's ways are not always easy. What am I living for -- the comfortable easy life, or the life of obedience? How can I tell?
2) The people living around Joseph and Mary were eyewitnesses to the greatest miracle in history and most had no clue. No one traveled with them to the census, yet later they would travel with the family when Jesus was 12 years old. Why not? What changed? Grudges destroy years and people. What do I need to let go of?
PRAYER: Father, being in your will does not make life easy. Life can still be hard but at least the struggle will not be internally, like Saul when Jesus told him that it is hard to kick against the goads. There is peace and freedom internally when we are in your will, but there still may be hardship and struggles in the external material world as we fight unseen forces that are arrayed against your will. Strengthen us. Help us to trust you and to have faith that you know what you are doing. Give us peace. Amen.
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