Yesterday we read that most interesting prophesy in Isaiah 7:14, about the miracle of the Incarnation. Today we find it fulfilled in Matthew 1:
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
Matthew states it very matter-of-factly: "This is how it happened." There is no doubt about the miraculous in his mind. He had seen plenty as he followed Jesus. From God's side, things are going exactly according to plan. We are the ones who often struggle with the way God chooses to do things. Let's think for just a few moments about Joseph. He had his plans to marry his betrothed, start a family together, build a name for himself and a successful business to pass on to his sons. Before he even gets started, God shakes up his plans by choosing Mary to carry the Messiah, and Him to be an adoptive father. His name might well be shamed, and this firstborn Son will not carry on the family business. Most troubling of all, he will have to watch his wife suffer the woes of a ministry family. During this Quiet Christmas, Do you struggle with God's plan being different than your plan? Do you wrestle with emotional and even mental anguish because life is not under your control, but God's? Joseph was wise enough. He did not talk back. He did not stomp off. He obeyed and did whatever God said. He married Mary; he protected her reputation; he gave the Messiah the name that says it all: Jesus. Was it worth it? He then got to hear others call this Son "God with us." Dwell on this: What would happen if I truly said to God: "I give you whatever You want"?
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