Here’s a fact: God doesn’t need our approval before He acts.
In case you didn’t hear me, let me repeat it again: God doesn’t need our approval before He acts. There, I said it twice.
Poor Joseph— God didn’t get his approval before acting. Joseph received the worst news of his life: his hopes and dreams for a wife and family came to a dreadful halt (Matt. 1). Before Joseph could follow God’s path, he had to decide if he was on the side of propriety, or scandal.
Before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, Mary became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph and Mary were not yet married, when Joseph was shocked to learn that Mary was pregnant.
Mary and Joseph were in the one-year waiting period when Mary was found to be with child. They had never had sexual intercourse and Mary herself had been faithful. While little is said about Joseph, one can imagine how his heart must have broken. He genuinely loved Mary, and yet the word came that she was pregnant.
His love for her was demonstrated by his actions. He chose not to create a public scandal by exposing her condition to the judges at the city gate. Such an act could have resulted in Mary’s death by stoning (Deut. 22:23-24).
Instead he decided to divorce her quietly. Then in a dream (cf. Matt. 2:13, 19, 22), an angel told Joseph that Mary’s condition was not caused by a man, but through the Holy Spirit (1:20; cf. v. 18). The Child Mary carried in her womb was a unique Child, for He would be a Son whom Joseph should name Jesus for He would save His people from their sins.
God did all of this without asking for Joseph and Mary’s approval.
Can you recall moments when God moved without asking for your approval?
