Joseph…..Chose to Change His Mind

Matthew 1:18-24

 

As a boy, Joseph learned to read and write at home. Around the age of five, he started his formal education at the synagogue under the guidance of the rabbis. There he learned the history of his people, the promises, the covenant, the gift of the land and the law. When his formal education was over, he started working in his father’s trade that he had learned at his father’s side.

 

Joseph was a carpenter. At least, that is what we have always thought. In Matt 13:55 the people say of Jesus, “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?” In our minds, we picture Joseph working with hammer and saw, chisel and rasp crafting fine furniture, creating useful household items or maybe building homes.

 

Perhaps Joseph had a different occupation. The Greek word tekton translated as carpenter simply means a person who works with his hands. This, of course, could be a carpenter, but it could also be a stone mason or even a day laborer in the field.

 

How does it change the Christmas story to think that Joseph might have worked at something other than carpentry? What ideas do you have about your Christmas celebration that God might want to change?

  

 

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.  ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

 

What a dilemma Joseph faced. Here was Mary, his wife according to Jewish custom, pregnant with a child that was not his. He knew what the law required in such a case – death for Mary and the child she carried. But he loved her. Despite his heartache and bitter disappointment, he did not want Mary to die. So he came up with his own plan, his own solution.

What dilemma are you facing? What situation has you searching for a solution?

 

Have you decided what to do? What plan have you made?

 

²⁰ 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. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

God sent the angel to Joseph to give him new instructions and to encourage him to do what God said. Sometimes we think it would be easier to listen to God if an angel would appear and talk to us. But we have the Holy Spirit who promises to  give us wisdom.

Have you asked the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom about your dilemma? If not, take a moment to ask Him now.

 

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

 

God had another plan for Mary and Joseph – one that had been set in motion long before their betrothal…even before they were born…in fact, before the world was created.

God has a plan to solve your dilemma. It might be different from the one you have chosen. Like Joseph, you might need more information to understand God’s plan.

Are you willing to consider that God might have another plan? Ask Him to show you if there is something else that you need to know.

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

                                                            

Joseph changed his mind. He listened to what the angel had to say and took Mary as his wife, rather than divorcing her quietly.

 

Do you need to change your mind? Will you?

 

Because Joseph chose to change his mind, he saw Jesus. Will you?

 

Next time we will see what the shepherds had to choose….