Joseph – God’s Plan for Us is Best
The Characters of Christmas Series
By Greg Johnson
December 3, 2006
http://www.LovingGodFellowship.org
Matthew 1:18-24
Joseph found himself in a tough situation in Matthew chapter one. Mary, the woman that he was engaged to be married, was found to be pregnant and Joseph knew that the baby could not be his. His immediate thought was that Mary had been unfaithful to him. Joseph had to make a decision on how he would handle this tough situation.
We have choices to make throughout life. In every situation we have to choose whether we are going to follow our plan or follow God’s plan. Please know that God’s plan is much better than our plan. There are two criteria that, if followed, will enable us to know and execute God’s plan and be blessed by Him.
JOSEPH’S PLAN.
(Matthew 1:18-19 NIV) "This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. {19} Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly."
In contrast to Roman and modern law, among Jewish people engagement was a legally binding contract that could only be dissolved by divorce. Under Jewish law, Mary was already Joseph’s wife. After a couple became engaged, the woman stayed at her parent’s home until the wedding ceremony. Living together and sexual consummation only took place after the wedding ceremony.
Joseph’s tough situation is that Mary became pregnant prior to the wedding ceremony. He knew that he had no sexual relations with her, so he assumed she had been unfaithful to him. Can you imagine? And to beat all, she told him that she got pregnant by God. Joseph had to believe that Mary had lost her mind.
Joseph was a special individual. He was “righteous.” He showed compassion on Mary. He chose not to bring shame to Mary and to release Mary from the contract of marriage with a secret divorce. Joseph had it all figured out and was ready to execute his plan.
GOD’S PLAN.
(Matthew 1:20-21 NIV) "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 had a different plan than what Joseph had came up with. It was not God’s plan for Joseph to divorce Mary, but to complete the marriage ceremony and take her as his wife. God revealed to Joseph the cause of Mary’s pregnancy and even gave him detailed instructions of what to name the baby boy that would be born to “save his people from their sins.”
This speaks to us today. We are not to be too quick to implement the plans that we come up with in our situations. In fact, we should not execute any plan until we have heard from God. We should seek God and his will in every situation. God will be faithful to lead and guide those that have a heart for Him and seek His will above their own.
GOD’S PLAN WILL ALWAYS LINE UP WITH HIS WORD.
(Matthew 1:22-23 NIV) "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: {23} "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" --which means, "God with us.""
The angel that came to Joseph in a dream lined up God’s plan with God’s Word.
He lined up what was happening with the Word of God spoken through the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 7:14 NIV) "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
Throughout our life, we will continually have to make decisions in difficult situations and circumstances. To make the right choices, we must seek God’s plan. How do we know when we have found God’s plan? There will always be two indicators when we have found God’s plan. Number one, God’s plan will always line up with His Word. Number two, we will have a peace that God gives us about the plan.
GOD’S PLAN BRINGS PEACE.
(Matthew 1:24-25 NIV) "When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. {25} But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus."
Joseph received God’s plan that lined up with God’s Word and he received a peace from God that passes all understanding. This Word and this peace enabled him to scrap his plan and execute God’s plan instead. Did it make his life easy? No, Joseph lived his life with everyone talking about how Mary got pregnant prior to their marriage ceremony. I imagine that people shamed Mary and Joseph all throughout their life on this earth, but they were chosen and blessed vessels of God. I imagine they are living pretty nice today around God’s throne.
Beloved, God’s plan for our life in each situation and every circumstance is far better than our plan. As we seek God through prayer and as we wait on Him, He will lead us and He will guide us. Weigh every decision you make on two premises. Does it line up with God’s Word? Do I have a peace about the decision? Unless you can say yes to those two questions, continue to pray and wait. If you act on your own plan, you will miss God. If you act on God’s plan, you will receive His blessings. Pray. Wait. Stay in the Word. Receive His peace. Be blessed!
