Can you only imagine getting the news from your fiancé that they’re pregnant and know that you are not the father? “So as not to disgrace her” was how Joseph (initially) decided to handle his break-up with Mary; quietly and without consequences that would have cost Mary (at the very least) to be disgraced. Back in the day, Mary’s out of wedlock pregnancy made her a prime candidate for stoning, much less gossip followed by a lifetime of shame. But Joseph was more than just her fiancé; He was her husband-to-be, chosen by God. His actions were more than just “chivalrous”; they were divine.
“18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement[a] quietly.20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,[b] for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:
23“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,[c]
which means ‘God is with us.’”
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,[c]
which means ‘God is with us.’”
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.
God had to take a man’s human frailties and vulnerabilities and use them to fulfill His purpose: Bring forgiveness and salvation into a lost and dying world. But in order to do that, He used a “divine moment” during Joseph’s sleep to communicate His will; to “save his people from their sins”. Had Joseph not been like minded with God, then the news of Mary’s pregnancy would not have been anything less than a nightmarish moment.
Thought to live by: God requires us to be like-minded with Him (not the world, our circumstances or our own human will….but with Him), so that when our time comes to do what He has called us to do, we will do so, without fear or doubt.
“Who’s you Daddy; knowing God as Abba Father” ™, Copyright © 2011, All Rights Reserved
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