Intercepted by God

Matthew 1:20

New International Version (NIV)

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.

For meditation

He was a good man who feared God. He was faithful to the law and did not want to offend the Lord. But this was too much to bear. How could Joseph be seen with a pregnant Mary, his betrothed, when the final rites had not been performed? The perception of being a sly old man who couldn’t hold himself honorably with Mary would be too disgraceful for him. He was innocent, but how would anybody believe him? He had the obvious option though. He could bring a charge of adultery against Mary and loudly deflect the disgrace her way. After all, she brought it upon herself. Joseph’s conscience, however, wouldn’t let him do that. Maybe his love for Mary was too strong to tolerate her exposure to public ridicule, so “he had in his mind to divorce her quietly” (Matt. 1:19).

Sometimes we act hastily on our hurt and pain inflicted by others. “I love her so much. How could she do that to me?” “We were best friends that shared everything; so how could he stab me in the back that way?” What usually follows is nothing but a vengeful thought – a payback kind of action. We seek pacification in our ruthless response to the other person’s action and determine to make it ugly and sweet. But that was not Joseph.

He considered Mary’s interest, in spite of his disappointment and hurt (Phil. 2:3-4). It was not about him. It was all about God who knows how to justly deal with everyone and their actions. Such an attitude always gives room for God to move justly, with mercy and grace. Only this time, Mary too was ignorant of the perceived charge of adultery. What was conceived in her was from the Holy Spirit (20). Mary was favored by God to carry the Messiah, and the angel instructed Joseph to take her home to be his wife and name the child, Jesus, “because He will save His people from their sins” (21). What a twist of divine manifestation!

1. Do you see how we could hurriedly jump to conclusions before the facts become clear?
2. Why don’t we ask for, and keenly listen to the explanation from the other person?
3. Isn’t it sad that we often allow our pain to cloud reason and cause us to overlook key indicators in the matter?
4. Do you realize how we could be badly mistaken and be embarrassed at the end?
5. Could we therefore, in spite of the obvious, defer judgment until we hear God on the matter?

I pray we can acknowledge that the obvious is not always what it is and that care must always be exercised in our reactions.

So: May God’s word direct your thoughts and action in every situation; and may you have compassion for others and be patient until God clears the air for you to act as He wills.

Nothing is real until God confirms it.

Shalom