How a Dilemma of Humiliation Resulted in a Blessing!

Matthew 1:18-25 (NKJV)

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (v. 18). Mary’s engagement to Joseph was a legally binding contract and required a divorce for it to be nullified. Before they came together, the Holy Spirit overshadows her, and she conceives a child. Once Joseph knew of her pregnancy he assumes that she had been unfaithful to him, but being just and righteous, and not wanting to publicly disgrace her, he planned to divorce her quietly. He was in a dilemma; Jewish customs and laws say that Mary could be disgraced or punished, and even Joseph could face humiliation from his peers. Mary would probably bear the brunt of the more harsh criticism from the sisters. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Oops, Mary hadn’t sinned; she had faith and responded to God’s call to carry His only begotten Son for nine months in her womb. Oh, what a privilege!

We make plans, but God can change them to accomplish His purpose. Joseph was thinking about his plans for handling this situation, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, telling him to not be afraid to take Mary as his wife “for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (v.20) “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (V. 21). Joseph showed great faith and love for Mary and the Lord and obeyed for the angel’s command to take her as his wife. Do we exercise that level of love and faith in the face of humiliation, or do we override the Holy Spirit out of fear of what someone might say?

Joseph exemplified obedience; we should do the same. Verses 22-23: ‘So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet [Isaiah] saying: ²³ Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”’ Matthew 1:24-25say that Joseph awoke from his sleep, and right away responded obediently to the command of the angel of the Lord and took Mary home as his wife. God trusted Joseph; he was self-disciplined and did not know her till she had given birth to her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus; He was the blessing that resulted from a humiliating dilemma, praise God.