Are you enjoying the journey as we investigate the circumstances surrounding Christmas? Personally, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our journey together. We already know God chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. He chose a teenage girl to give birth to our Savior – Jesus. Today, I invite you to look at Joseph, Mary’s husband. Like her, he was a part of God’s divine plan.
Why Did God Choose Joseph?
Allow me to cut across the yard and say: Joseph was OBEDIENT.
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. Matthew 1:20
Joseph was struggling with his dilemma when God spoke to him (I know i would’ve struggled too). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife (Matthew 1:24). Joseph did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do (consistently).
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, Matthew 2:13-14
Additionally, Joseph had a CLOSE WALK WITH GOD! We may not fully understand the reasons behind God’s instructions. We do know that his wisdom is complete and his judgment infallible. The way to know God’s instructions is to know his Word. Just as children do not understand the reasons for all their parents’ instructions until they are older.
After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.” So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. Matthew 2:19-21
We may not understand all of God’s reasons in this life. It is far better to obey God first, and then discover the reasons. We are never free to disobey God just because we don’t understand.
God chose Joseph because he was a PROTECTOR.
So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: “He will be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:21-23
Joseph clearly protected his family from the evil intent of Herod. He returned to his homeland from Egypt only after the death of Herod and the threat was gone. So, what’s the message:
God Uses People Who DESIRE to do His Will.
Desire to do His will more than anything else! Say, “I want God’s plan for my life.” God made you for a purpose but you could miss that purpose. You must choose to cooperate with God’s purpose for your life or you’ll miss it. You could waste your life and blow your life, squander your life and not make it count. It’s not automatic.
