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And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly (Matthew 1:19).
Here Joseph is betrothed to a young, Jewish girl named Mary. Considering she found favor with God, I'm sure she was a pretty special girl. He must have been surprised to find out sweet Mary was expecting. In an attempt to protect her from shame, Joseph decided to quietly get himself out of the situation, even though Mary must have told him about the angel. It took his own visitation from an angel, by dream, to open Josephs eyes to what God was doing in their little family.
The Messiah was making His entrance into the world through the womb of a young girl to be fathered by Joseph. Yet, Joseph is ready to run. Sounds like me from time to time. God is ready to do something big, something unusual, and something that may cost me when I decide to hightail it out of there. Like Joseph, I trade God's best for what's comfortable for me. Joseph almost missed having a front row seat watching a prophecy fulfilled, a world forever changed. But God, doesn't give up on his people so easy.
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. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus (Matthew 1:20-25).
I love Joseph's response: he woke up, did as he was commanded, And he called his name Jesus. Unfortunately, my first response is like Joseph's first response- run. My prayer is that, in such situations, I will wake up to an awareness of God's plan and respond in obedience.
Meekness is bowing the knee and saying, "Lord, You're sovereign. If it pleases You, it pleases me (pg 158)." As Silver Refined- Kay Arthur
Merry Christmas, Friends!
In His Name,
Jennifer
7 comments:
Beautiful! Thank you for honesty and for your prayer, not for a perfect first response but for the right response after all, by God's grace! I'm with you!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! "By God's grace" indeed! Glad I'm not alone! :)
truly we can lean allot from him and so many others, God calls our names and just like the men in the bible we aren't sure if it is Him calling us, could it be that is why God calls us three times by our names? Great post thanks for sharing I know I am not always saying yes Lord because I am not perfect but I sure am not the person I use to be glory to GOD
The sweetness of your words settle me into the truth you write here.
The simplicity with which Joseph responded - woke up, and did...Love that you pointed that out.
Thank you, Desiray! I echo your words, "I sure am not the person I used to be be glory to God"!
Thanks so much, Jeri! I love celebrating truth with you!
Both Joseph and Mary inspire me in their humble obedience. And yet both of them (like you mention here about Joseph) may have felt "troubled" (as Mary did) or unsure, as Joseph did -- at first. And yet God shows them and they obey. Such examples.
Merry Christmas!
Caroline, I could not agree more! Merry Christmas!
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