Matthew 1:18-25 New International Version
Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 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. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Joseph is betrothed to Mary. We like to think that he was madly in love with her and couldn’t wait to be married. Some think that he was older, perhaps a widower. Regardless, something happened. He discovered that she was pregnant, and it wasn’t by him. Obviously he must do something about this situation. He could divorce her, have her publicly humiliated or even stoned. He’s a nice guy, though, and didn’t want to hurt her or her family. “20 But after he had considered this…” The Message version puts it this way: “20 While he was trying to figure a way out…”
“While he was trying to figure a way out…” How many times have we been in a sticky or messy situation and have found ourselves stuck with no easy or “good” solutions? I can’t count or remember how many times I have. Sometimes it almost seems to be a regular thing.
Are you going through a time of decision? It might be a situation caused by your own selfishness or desires or folly. Or perhaps circumstances beyond your control have pushed you into a difficult position. Does it seem there is no solution, nowhere to go?
Like Joseph, we weigh the options, make a list of pros and cons, and try to make the right decision based on our own feelings and perceptions. But sometimes, our perception and view are not accurate, as in this case with Joseph. There is more going on in this situation than he is aware of, or could possibly imagine. He makes his initial decision and then is brought up short by a divine dream messenger who reveals a greater plan.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t make our lists and weigh the options. It’s important to make the most informed and best choices that we can. But usually our decisions are based on our own comfort zones and desires. How will this decision affect me? Do we look beyond the obvious for other possibilities? Perhaps God has a greater plan, a blessing rather than a problem that can come from the situation. How many times do we miss that greater blessing by trying to “figure a way out” by ourselves? Joseph could have dismissed the dream as simply that, a dream. But he didn’t. He was willing to listen and to accept another possibility. Are we? Are we willing to look beyond the expected, the standard responses? When we do, we may find a greater blessing, a greater good that would otherwise never happen. It may not be the most comfortable choice; accepting Mary and all that went with it would not lead to a comfortable easy life. But what a blessing to be the earthly father of the Son of God! And what a blessing to the world!
What will you do the next time you are caught in the messiness of life? Don’t settle for the first choice or the easiest. Let the Spirit open your eyes to look for the best.
