A Man Like Joseph

I do not envy what Joseph must have gone through while being engaged to Mary.  Mary must have been beautiful, sweet, and a wonderful woman (after all, she was chosen to give birth to Jesus!).  The shock, confusion and maybe even disappointment to discover she was with child must have been crushing to Joseph.

Before the angel appeared to him in a dream, it already seems as though he was a man of patience. A man who is slow to anger and a man of forgiveness.  Joseph clearly cares for Mary and shows this by planning to divorce her quietly- despite believing she had been unfaithful.  A quiet divorce would save Mary from shame or even being stoned.  I wonder if it would even open up opportunities for rumors to hurt his reputation instead?  

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.” 

I assume Joseph knew his bible, and by the dream was convinced that the prophecy was being fulfilled, and that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah!

Not only that, but after the dream he listens to the angel and stays with Mary and essentially gives his birthright to this child that’s technically not even his!  We know from the story of Jacob and Esau how important the birthright is.  I have a feeling that on top of the command form the angel, he probably knew about the prophecy.  It all came together, the dream and prophecy. It was clear to him, and so he went on to marry Mary and be the earthly father of our Savior.

My prayer today is that we acknowledge how God used a man like Joseph.  It is my prayer for myself, and for our church that we can be more like Joseph.  A patient man who is slow to anger.  A man who listened and was obedient to God’s command.  And while it doesn’t say so explicitly, I pray that we can be devoted to God’s word in the same way Joseph probably was.  

- Zane