Joseph is a bit of a mystery man in the Bible, but what a sweetheart! We only know a few facts about him. We know that he was a carpenter by trade and that, as Matthew 1 opens, he was betrothed to Mary. We know that he was alive when Jesus was twelve, during their family's trip to Jerusalem for Passover. We can surmise that he probably died sometime between then and the crucifixion of Christ because Jesus entrusted his mother to the apostle John on the cross. The only other information we have about Joseph is found in Matthew 1. Just what was it about Joseph that caused him, of all the men in the world, to be the man our heavenly Father selected to be the surrogate father to His son?

We aren't told how Joseph first learned of Mary's pregnancy, which began after they were betrothed, but when he did, he understandably assumed that Mary was pregnant by another man. This was scandalous and hurtful. Instead of acting out of the sense of betrayal, embarrassment, and dishonor that he surely felt, Matthew 1:20 tells us "he considered what to do." He didn't lash out or rush to judgment. Joseph was a thoughtful, kind man.

As we have learned through Mary's story, betrothal in the ancient land of Judea was a binding agreement, similar to our engagements but much more restrictive. The marriage was not to be consummated until after the actual wedding ceremony took place, which was usually about a year after the betrothal began. Once the couple became betrothed, the only way they could break the betrothal was by divorce or death.

When he learned about Mary's supposed unfaithfulness, Joseph faced a tough decision. He had three alternatives. He could publicly divorce Mary, which would have led to her open shaming and possibly even stoning to death. He could privately divorce her, which would be a quieter way of dealing with the situation. He would simply give her written divorce papers in the presence of two witnesses, and that would end their relationship. Lastly, he could go ahead with the marriage, consummate it, and raise the child as his own.

Matthew 1:19 tells us that Joseph was a righteous man. This refers to the fact that he was faithful to the Jewish law. As one who observed the Mosaic Law, he knew he must truthfully recognize Mary's unfaithfulness to him. Instead of publicly divorcing her, he decided to do so privately out of consideration for Mary. This way, Joseph would be righteous before the law but also compassionate toward Mary. You can see how unselfish this decision was.

But before he could execute his plan, something intervened. Joseph had a dream, a literal dream. This dream must have had an unusual quality because he knew it was from God. In the dream, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:20).

The angel addressed Joseph as "son of David." This would get his attention. The angel was referring to his heritage. Joseph undoubtedly knew that David was his forefather, and he also knew the promise of II Samuel 7 that the Messiah would come through the royal line of David. He also knew he was in that royal line, so this would grab his attention. "Heads up, Joseph, there is something about your heritage that is important to what I am about to say." Also, notice that the angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. Embarking on marriage with Mary is going to take courage. Joseph will need to be brave.

The angel brought a very important piece of information to Joseph. Mary was pregnant (which he already knew), but there was no earthly father. The child that had been conceived was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Mary was still a virgin. This birth would be a virgin birth. I am unsure if he immediately connected the dots to Isaiah 7:14. Still, as a righteous Jew, Joseph knew the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 about the coming Messiah: "a virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son...." Could it be that his promised bride is the virgin who will bear a son?

So we have a man in the royal line of David, a woman who is a virgin but pregnant, and a dream with an angel telling Joseph to be brave and take Mary as his wife because there is no earthly father. The whole circumstance must have seemed surreal to Joseph. He would need courage and humility. He must swallow his pride and, for the rest of his life, know that people would question the paternity of his eldest son. This situation was unbelievable, and yet Joseph believed.

Joseph's plan of quietly divorcing Mary went out the window. He was in. Joseph immediately obeyed the command of the angel. He woke up out of his dream and acted in obedience. This is so important. We often don't know God's will or direction when we have a decision to make. I say, if you don't know what to do, don't do it! But once you know, obey. Putting your faith into action. This is vitally important. It is not enough to believe in our head; we must act on it. “And Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took her as his wife, and kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son, and he called His name Jesus.” (Matthew 1:24-25).

So, what have we learned about the person named Joseph through his introduction in Matthew? Even through the depths of the personal pain he must have felt when it seemed he had been betrayed and dishonored by his beloved, he didn't respond in anger or revenge. He showed great forbearance. He was thoughtful. He considered the situation before he acted out of his hurt. His initial plan to quietly divorce Mary was walking the fine line between being righteous in the eyes of the law yet full of compassion, grace, and mercy. When he encountered the angel in his dream, his response was unselfish and brave, willing to die to himself, to his plans and agenda. He was sensitive to the leading of the Lord, flexible, and willing to change course when he understood God's plan. He was a man of action who didn't just believe in God but acted in obedience to his beliefs.

We understand how important the Father is in a family. No wonder our heavenly Father chose Joseph to be the earthly Father of His Son out of all the men in the world. Joseph isn't often in the limelight in Scripture, but when Matthew focuses upon him, he shines brightly.

May we not respond out of anger but have hearts that carefully consider a situation before we act. May we follow the Lord's leading even when we don't understand. May we lead like Joseph.

In the stillness, like Joseph, we find our true strength. Let us use these silent moments to gather courage and resilience, gracefully facing whatever life brings our way.

Joseph teaches us the beauty of steadfast faith. Even when the path ahead seems unclear, trust deeply in your journey. Prayer and meditation are your compass, guiding you with divine assurance.

Joseph’s life is a beacon of deliberate and meaningful action. Let his example inspire you to ensure your actions speak of your values, impacting others in a ripple of kindness and purpose.

Advent is a precious time for introspection. Discover areas where your soul yearns to grow, drawing inspiration from Joseph’s unwavering faith and boundless love.

By embodying faith, courage, and love, you become a living testament to Joseph’s legacy. Share his story with those around you, spreading hope and resilience like seeds in fertile soil.

Every act of kindness and compassion you share builds a legacy of love that mirrors Joseph’s. Let your everyday interactions be filled with this legacy, echoing through the lives you touch.