Devotional 12-15-22

 Matthew 1: 18-25

Time after time, God has interrupted normal people doing their normal work with a challenge that changed their lives and tested their faith.  Think of Abraham, Moses, any of the prophets, all of the disciples, Paul, Elizabeth, Zechariah, Mary, Joseph.

God interrupted Joseph’s normal life while he was sleeping.  Can you imagine that dream? An angel appeared to Joseph saying, “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife because the child she carries has been conceived by the Holy Spirit.” Then we are told that when Joseph woke up, he did just as the angel had commanded.  That’s almost too unexpected to ever be expected.

I’ve wondered what it must have been like for Mary to share her news with Joseph and her family. There were three stages in normal Jewish marriages of that day. A match and agreement were made within the families of the man and woman. Often the man was a good bit older than the woman. Then when the woman was old enough, the betrothal period began. This was usually a yearlong time during which the couples ratified the engagement. The couples were known as husband and wife, though they did not live together. At the end of that betrothal period, the couple formally made their covenant of marriage and began living together as wife and husband. 

For Mary and Joseph, the match had been made. They were a couple in the midst of getting to
know one another when the Gabriel visited Mary and she said yes to God’s amazing opportunity. But there was Joseph, her husband. Joseph, a righteous man, honored the tradition. He knew what he had not done and still the announcement came to him that his betrothed was with child. 

Joseph had to be deeply hurt, humiliated, disappointed, and unbelieving that his Mary would do something like this to him and their relationship. Everything was so well planned. They had followed the expected customs. Joseph had done everything a good man was supposed to do. The character of Joseph shone through. He didn’t want to humiliate her. He didn’t publicly expose her, but simply decided to call off the engagement quietly. 

And then a dream came to him.  How do you trust a dream—especially a dream like that one? How do you let go of your anger and disappointment and learn to trust that relationship again? I don’t know how Joseph did it, but he did. He didn’t plan the Christmas story. There is no way he could have predicted it. But still he opened himself to it and allowed himself to participate. God needed Joseph. The prophecies of old needed Joseph who was of the house and lineage of David. Joseph got involved in something that went far beyond what he could see or understand. 
I confess that I find it difficult sometimes to trust in God –to act on something which I cannot fully explain or control. And yet, that is exactly what God asks from us. It is called having faith--believing that God can and will use people like us to change the world. When God is involved, expect the unexpected. Hear the angel say, “Do not be afraid.” Then just say yes to God’s hope for you. 

Prayer:  God of the unexpected, in all generations you have called persons to be in your service. Speak your call to us as you spoke to Joseph, that we may live to do your will. Renew us, so that we may welcome Jesus Christ to rule our thoughts and claim our love as Lord of lords, and King of kings.  Amen.

Rev. Mark Conner