What About Joseph's Faith?

Let’s talk today about Joseph, Mary’s husband and earthly father of Jesus.

We hear so much about Mary’s faith when she said: Be it unto me according to Your word. But what about Joseph? He had to have as much faith as Mary to believe the angel and to take Mary as his wife, knowing that people would question what had happened between them. His reputation, as well as Mary’s, was on the line. Both of them had to make themselves of no reputation, just as Jesus made himself of no reputation when he came to this earth. They had to lay aside their earthly desires for man’s approval, including their parents’ approval, and seek only God’s approval and believe Him and trust Him for their lives totally. Both Mary and Joseph had to totally trust God for what they had heard.

Let’s look at the passage where Joseph was visited by the angel in Matthew 1:18-25.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife;
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

At first glance, this passage seems to ordinary, so in order. You notice that Joseph was a just man, one who was an upright man who was not willing to expose Mary publicly but divorce her quietly without any fanfare or retaliation against her. She could have been stoned if he had so desired. Think about what would have happened if Joseph had not believed. But God knew He could trust Joseph as much as He could trust Mary with parenting His only begotten Son. Joseph pondered the situation and while he was pondering everything, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him that he was not to fear because Mary had conceived the child by the Holy Ghost. (Mary was also told not to fear. The shepherds were told not to fear. I have a feeling we would have been told the same thing as we were exposed to such awesome power.) How many men would have believed that it was the angel of the Lord? After all, it was only a dream, or was it? That is the decision Joseph had to make. But he obeyed and called the child Jesus as he had been instructed. (Mary had also been instructed to call him Jesus.) One simple phrase describes Joseph, just like Mary---“and he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him.” In other words, he believed the word of the Lord, just as Mary did.

Let’s translate that to us today. What is it that the Lord has spoken to you about? Have you believed Him? And have you told Him that you will do as He has spoken to you. That is the place I will leave you today. We all have some pondering to do. The Lord is calling us to a higher place in Him, where we will believe and do what He tells us. Are you ready?