God Will Make a Way!

God Changes Minds, Weeping at Night, Joy in the Morning

The night was dark and still. A dog barked. Another answered with several yaps and a howl before yawning and settling down with its head on its paws. Clouds separated and soft moonlight bathed the square, flat roof of Joseph’s house. Quiet peace enveloped Nazareth.

In bed, Joseph turned, again. Thoughts, like whirlpools, churned in his brain. He imagined kind words of friends and neighbours, bringing condolences, and he bristled with anger at the image. He didn’t want sympathy. He wanted respect.

Flinging off the blanket he felt around for the pitcher of water and spilled some into a cup. He drank deeply and heaved a long sigh. Joseph groped his way to the workshop beside his house, lit an oil lamp, picked up a plane and set to work smoothing boards for a neighbour’s new door. His muscles rippled and easily accomplished the familiar task, providing release from his mental anguish. Tears sprang to his eyes. He ignored them, allowing dark spots to dampen the wood.

Mary, Mary! How could you do this? I thought...you were so lovely, so pure, so good!

Joseph wondered whether a man had forced himself upon her, against her will. Maybe she had complied. Did she even want to marry him?

Mary, I am humiliated! My hopes are crushed! Have you broken faith with me?

He slammed the plane down on the work bench and yelled to the night, “I’ve been such a fool!”

Surprised at the loudness of his own voice, he flipped the board over and poured his energy into smoothing away the rough saw cuts in the wood and the rough emotions tearing at his heart.

Later, energy spent, he went back to bed, his mind searching for solutions.

What will I do? I must talk with Mary’s parents. What will I say? I will quietly call off the engagement, the betrothal. They will understand. They must be grieving, too.

Joseph was not a mean man. He could think of no better way out of this dilemma. In the morning he would make the necessary visit to her parents.

“Oh, my God! Why?” he cried out, before sleep finally swallowed his anguished thoughts.

***

Sunlight streamed through Joseph’s window. A rooster crowed. As the mists of sleep began to roll away, he became aware of an unexpected calm. His mind vaguely registered the turmoil of the night, but a beautiful calm persisted.

Joseph opened his eyes and searched his mind, eager to retrieve his dream which had brought relief. How had this dream made a pathway out of the turmoil? Bits and pieces of it began to reassemble in his mind. His brain cleared, and he remembered distinctly that he had not been alone in the night. An angel had come to him, spoken to him and given him some very important information.

“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.”[1]

A smile of relief spread across Joseph’s face as he lay in bed, remembering the presence of the angel.

Sitting up on his bed, he scratched his head and vividly brought to his mind some other words from the angel in his dream: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus”.[2]

Joseph made a mental note to himself:

Jesus. I must remember. Mary is carrying a little boy and I must name him Jesus. Jesus! In Hebrew that name means “God Saves”! God! You are saving us both from disgrace in your sight!

Suddenly, he said out loud, “No man has defiled her! There is no shame in all of this. This peace is from God.”

As he washed and dressed more of the angel’s words clearly came to mind: “…he will save his people from their sins.”[3] And he wondered…

Could this baby be the Messiah? This is not just about Mary and me. This angel’s message is for all of us.

Words memorized since childhood came to him. Isaiah, the prophet, had said: “a virgin will conceive and give birth to a son. The name of the child will be Immanuel, which means ‘God with us’”. [4]

I cannot be angry with Mary. This baby is the Messiah, God Himself. I know now what I must do. It will be difficult, but it will be the right thing. Better to bear the wrath, judgement and misunderstanding of my family and neighbours than abandon the peace of God.

His steps firm, he visited Mary’s parents. They greeted one another with “Shalom,” but the couple could not hide their concern. Joseph confidently confirmed the marriage arrangements. When Joseph left, they looked at each other in wonder and their lined faces broke into smiles. They held each other’s hands as they watched Joseph stride purposefully down the street, his head held high.

“I don’t understand,” said Mary’s mother.

“Neither do I,” said her husband, “but God is making a way for us. Let’s trust Him.”

---

[1] Matthew 1:20

[2] Matthew 1:21a

[3] Matthew 1:21b

[4] Isaiah 7:14