“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.'” (Matthew 1:29b-21)
When Mary told Joseph she was pregnant with a child who was not his, she claimed it was by the Holy Spirit. Do you think he believed her? Would you? Would you accept such a weird story? Yet in the light of Mary’s nearly impeccable purity, it certainly would create confusion in his mind. Was that strange story possible? In any case, why should he marry a pregnant woman? He had every right to get a divorce. He wasn’t the father. Besides, he did not have to make a big show of it. After all, if he loved Mary he would not want to do anything to hurt her or expose her to public ridicule. He could divorce her privately so few would know of her shame. But this created a dilemma: divorce would still have brought her shame and humiliation as an unwed mother.
The scripture tells us that Joseph was a righteous man who wanted to do the right thing, to obey God’s law. Because He was a righteous and godly man, he was close to the Lord, religious, devout, patient, compassionate. He knew God’s voice so that when he had that angelic dream he had no doubt that the message was from the Lord. He believed that God was guiding him in this dream.
Joseph knew the consequences of obedience. He knew he was in for a rough time, yet he had faith in the Lord. He knew God well enough to know that no matter what the cost to him, abuse, pain, misunderstanding, scorn and heartache, He would enable him to carry out His plan. As God’s willing servant, he would respond as Mary did “Be it unto me according to your word.” Joseph heard the voice of the Lord and he obeyed immediately. Would that we would be as ready to obey as we hear the voice of God, not in an angelic dream, but from His Holy Word speaking through the church.
May the Lord bless you with His mercy and grace at this holy time of Christmas.