A Simple Obedience

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.
-Matthew 1:24


It came in a dream.

An order. In the middle of the night, in the middle of a deep and stirring sleep, from a heavenly herald.

To a laborer, who lived by the harvest of his hands. Who studied for years in the craft of carpentry and built sycamore chairs and sanded stables. Who earned just enough to get by and worked diligently to provide for the young girl he pledged to marry.

Joseph was favored in his town, looked upon as a good and honest man. Everything lined up in a row for this tradesman. Everything looked to continue as planned.

Then, an announcement. A whisper from the lips of his betrothed. Gabriel’s appearance. Late night cravings. The swelling of her stomach.

He, being a decent, honorable man, determined to make things right, to do the decent thing so as not to shame her. He weighed the options, probed his possibilities and prepared to divorce her as quickly and quietly as possible. She would not be bothered, they would not be disgracing one another. A simple solution.

That night after his decision, as he lay down upon his straw mattress, Joseph prayed to the God of his fathers. For strength, for guidance, for His will to be shown. When he finished, he slipped into his blanket and drifted into the world behind his eyes.

A voice rang through the silence. Someone called to him. Knew him by name. Joseph, son of David. His lineage, leaked into his subconscious. And a light that filled the span of his mind’s space. Brilliant. Determined.

Joseph tossed between the sheets, terrified. But the messenger’s next words stilled his shaking heart. “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.”

Do not be afraid. The Lord’s angel mentioned Mary by name, too! And the peace that flooded through him told of truth, that the little one inside her belly was indeed inserted by the Spirit.

Take her home as your wife. God was not calling him to let her go. He was calling him to hold on tightly, to walk with her and shelter her and stand beside her, amidst the people’s stares. And how they would stare, no doubt. But Joseph was a man of courage. Beneath his humble demeanor was a thick skinned warrior who served the Lord no matter the cost, no matter the instruction. If he was called to love this girl and father the incoming Messiah, then he would embrace this direction with dedication.

As the angel faded from his dream, the morning sun filled the corners of his room. Joseph roused, blinked in the new day and set out to obey the angel of the Lord’s command. He found Mary, bid their families farewell and set out for Bethlehem. And when the arrival of a Son appeared, he smiled at the King in his arms and loved as he never had before.

A dream. A calling. A simple man with a simple obedience. No fear. No question. Just trust and acceptance.

It takes great faith to hear the Lord and act upon His direction. Even when it means denying yourself comfort and stability. Especially when it doesn’t make sense to those around you. But it makes sense to God, and, like Joseph’s acceptance, it is enough to step forward and carry out His good and perfect plan.


Prayer:
Father, I thank You for Joseph’s obedience. That when he heard from You, he chose to obey and follow Your lead. I pray I may have a faith like his, a trust like his and the knowledge that You are in control, and whatever it is You have planned for me, it is growing me and bringing me closer to You. Thank You for carrying out your Christmas plan through a simple man’s heart and his obedient bride. Amen.