“When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.”
Matthew 2:13-15 (NIV)
Joseph was living in complete trust and obedience to God long before he understood the details of the Lord’s plan. The story about the foster father of Jesus is too wonderful to reserve only for Christmastime. His life example is meant to meditate on more than once a year.
Joseph was engaged to Mary, and as virtuous as he was, he was still human, and became very stressed when he discovered that Mary was pregnant. He prayed about the situation but still worried, having many sleepless nights. His anxiety was caused by wanting to do the right thing, without putting Mary at risk of being stoned, a punishment for a woman presumed guilty of adultery, under Mosaic law.
We can relate to Joseph in praying about a problem, but still worrying about it, through many sleepless nights filled with anxiety. A marriage engagement in first century Judaism was permanent, a sealed betrothal, which could not be broken without a legal divorce. Joseph tried to think of ways to handle the problem of her pregnancy without putting Mary to shame, so he decided on divorcing her and sending her away, secretly.
That night, an angel came to him in a dream, telling him not to be afraid and to go ahead and take Mary as his wife, because the child in her womb was conceived by the Holy Spirit. He didn’t understand it all, but he trusted God, by believing the unbelievable. (Matthew 1:20)
God’s plan for our salvation resulted in the most difficult challenges Mary and Joseph ever encountered. Every blessing comes with a challenge, which ends up testing our trust in God. His plan was for an unwed virgin named Mary, to offer her womb to be the ark of protection and safety that nurtured God’s son during His prenatal days of life.
God gave Joseph the job of keeping them both safe, and to be His protector, His earliest mentor, and the father figure that Jesus would grow up with, throughout His human existence.
The infinite God of the universe, who asks us to trust in Him, entrusted His only incarnate son into Joseph’s care and protection. Joseph did what he was asked to do, so that Jesus could do what He came to do, which made it possible for us to be saved and receive eternal life.
God trusted Joseph and Joseph trusted God, which is what a relationship is all about. Mary and Joseph were probably the most misunderstood couple in Nazareth, as they trusted God, without knowing all the details of His plan for them. We are also called to trust God, and remain in a relationship with Him, without knowing all the details.
They journeyed to Bethlehem, for a required government census, but as they arrived, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Joseph began to see that God’s timing was all part of a plan to fulfill prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.
(Micah 5:2)
Joseph was visited by an angel again, and in a dream, was told to take Mary and Jesus, and flee quickly to Egypt. Herod was plotting a mass murder of all babies born within a two year period, believing they were a threat to his kingdom. Joseph did his part as protector of his family, while still unaware of all the details.
While Mary and Joseph lived in Egypt, it wasn’t easy for them as religious Jews of the first century. They were far away from their Temple, their family and friends of the faith, living as aliens and strangers in a foreign land.
Every decision Joseph made in caring for his family, was contrary to the normal lifestyle of his culture and time. It was not normal to marry an already pregnant woman. It was not normal for a devout Hebrew to live in Egypt, among idol worshippers, with no support of a faith community or family nearby. It was just Joseph and Mary, trusting God together.
Eventually, they were led back to Nazareth, and provided a loving home environment for Jesus to grow in the security of family, faith and friends. Joseph is a role model for every Christian man who, by being faithful to God, found himself asking,
“How did I get myself into this?”
He is a role model for fathers, foster fathers, godfathers, and ministers who lead and guide others.
Anyone who ever felt like they are living in Egypt, outside the norm, facing a situation that is out of their comfort zone, and too difficult to explain, should remember Joseph went through the same thing. God can accomplish anything without our help, but He chooses regular people to participate in His plans.
He chose Mary and Joseph to do His will to fulfill the plan of salvation. There is no better place to be, than in the center of God’s will, and Joseph shows us how trust can keep us there.
Lord, thank you for the example of Joseph and help us to trust you as he did, even without knowing the details of the plan.
