Vol 11 - When God rocks your world...

We've been going through a series at church called "The Arrival". It's been a study of the different characters involved in the birth of Jesus and how it effected them, whanged their world, what their perspective was etc.

Last Sunday we spoke about Joseph. I've never heard a sermon about Joseph the step father of Jesus before so i was curious as to where this was going to go.

The message was centered around Matthew 1:18-25 which says :
 "Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
  and they shall call his name Immanuel”
 (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus." 
- Joseph was legally engaged to be married to Mary. It wasn't like to day where you can date someone, propose to be married but still anytime before you are married decide 'nah, bored with them, i'm moving on'

As he was legally engaged to be married to her there was a binding contract binding them together. To break that contract would take going through a local court. Engagement in this culture had both ethical and moral implications for both parties.

- This passage calls Joseph a godly man. He was a man of good reputation and integrity. His name was clean. As a lowly carpenter he had made a name for himself by obeying the laws of his God.

Mary all of a sudden was knocked-up! (by God nontheless - try explaining that one). Joseph as a godly man could not marry her and tarnish the name of himself but also the God he worshipped. Culturally she could be dragged through the courts and humiliated, she could be stoned or cast out of their society. Doing any of these things would be completely justifiable and certainly expected. Because of his godliness however; Joseph decided it would be better to put her away (divorce her) quietly, so as not to humiliate her.

Joseph had plans of godliness, a business to maintain and also a godly name for himself - a pregnant fiance would not only disrupt all those, but probably ruin them for good. But God steps in....

The " angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Joseph had animportant decision to make at this point: Keep to the status quo, maintain a good name for himself, keep a good business going, put her away quietly or obey the voice of God and face the possibility of a life of public rejection and shame. 

Joseph obviously decided to keep his fiance, marry her, and even wait until the child was born to have sexual relations with his wife. By obeying the voice of God, Joseph had surrendered all he had know and there was much more to come.
Joseph was to care for, to provide for and to protect a child that was not his own, but was actually the child of God. He had the responsibility to name the child 'Jesus" because He would save His people.

Obviously Joseph didn't have all the pieces to the puzzle, he didn't know he would have to flee to Egypt to protect Jesus, then go to Nazareth as well. What piece he did have however; was the piece of obedience. And that was the only piece he would need.

Joseph is spoken to and directed by the angel of the Lord a few more times in his life and every time he obeys and has to uproot everything and move to a new location.

Obeying God is not always convenient, and it may even mean giving everything you know up without any clear direction,  but it is always best. Joseph is a clear example of how God can rock your world in a way you never thought possible, for a reason you may not completely understand.