Joseph
[Read Matthew 1:18-25]
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.”
God chose Mary for her special assignment as the mother of our Lord Jesus. The angel Gabriel told her what would happen. But God did not let Joseph in on the plan. Certainly, God could have told them both in advance, but he did not. Instead, in the course of time, Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, and he was put in the terrible position of having to decide what to do. He had in mind to break off their engagement quietly and sensitively.
We can only imagine the confusion and pain Joseph felt. He loved Mary. He loved God. He wanted to do what was right but was not at all sure what was right. Joseph was a good man, a faithful man, and yet God did not bail Joseph out right away. He let Joseph struggle and come to a decision he thought was the right thing to do.
But we see from the visit from an angel in a dream that it was not the right thing to do. Joseph was going on what he could see and know. God had something better in mind and told Joseph to keep going on faith and to depend more on the grace of God. And Joseph and Mary would need much grace as they faced the gossip and murmuring of their neighbors in Nazareth.
God does not spare us from hard situations and difficult decisions. What he wants from us is faith that he will do what ultimately is for his glory and for our good. Keep going and keep looking to God.
Pastor Cory Dahl
First Baptist – Sturgeon Bay
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.”
God chose Mary for her special assignment as the mother of our Lord Jesus. The angel Gabriel told her what would happen. But God did not let Joseph in on the plan. Certainly, God could have told them both in advance, but he did not. Instead, in the course of time, Mary told Joseph she was pregnant, and he was put in the terrible position of having to decide what to do. He had in mind to break off their engagement quietly and sensitively.
We can only imagine the confusion and pain Joseph felt. He loved Mary. He loved God. He wanted to do what was right but was not at all sure what was right. Joseph was a good man, a faithful man, and yet God did not bail Joseph out right away. He let Joseph struggle and come to a decision he thought was the right thing to do.
But we see from the visit from an angel in a dream that it was not the right thing to do. Joseph was going on what he could see and know. God had something better in mind and told Joseph to keep going on faith and to depend more on the grace of God. And Joseph and Mary would need much grace as they faced the gossip and murmuring of their neighbors in Nazareth.
God does not spare us from hard situations and difficult decisions. What he wants from us is faith that he will do what ultimately is for his glory and for our good. Keep going and keep looking to God.
Pastor Cory Dahl
First Baptist – Sturgeon Bay
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