Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 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. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” … When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (Matthew 1:19-21, 24)
René MacielThis Christmas season, I am remembering the story of Joseph—the lessons he learned and the life lessons his story teaches us. He is the type of man who perhaps represents so many of us.
So much is wrapped up by the few words in Matthew 1:24, when Joseph “did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.”
Stunned by the announcement that Mary was pregnant, Joseph prepared to do the right thing—not as determined by his culture, which would have been to renounce and shame her publicly at the least and to organize a stoning party at the extreme—but as dictated by his heart. His innate goodness meant he decided to dissolve the pre-engagement quietly and do nothing to cause Mary pain—even though he must have been hurt and confused.
But God moved Joseph even beyond that decent response. When he heard from God, he promptly married Mary. But at what cost to his self-esteem, ego and social standing? And what questions did he ask of God? Whatever they were and whatever the answers, or lack thereof, he was obedient to God.
From Joseph, we learn to be open to unanticipated and non-logical—from a human perspective—acts of God. We learn to listen to the clear word from God and obey it faithfully.
Like Joseph, we will battle with our thoughts of obedience. It will not be easy. Maybe this Advent season as you reflect on Christ, you will be called to do something extraordinary, something uncomfortable, something out of the box. Are you, like Joseph, ready to do what the Lord is asking you to do?
Advent—a season of trust and faith.
René Maciel is president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio.
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