We talk a lot about Mary’s courage, but what about Joseph? He had dreams from angels, yes, but also a lot of unknowns. A child not biologically his. A long journey. No room at the inn.
Do you think he was ever scared? How does his quiet obedience speak to the way we’re called to walk in trust, especially when we don’t have all the answers?
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@ellenvera I think fear and doubt are natural. Faith is the ability to believe and do it anyway.
Gideon: Hid from the Midianites in fear, but obeyed God’s call to lead Israel, testing God twice before trusting Him.
Abraham & Sarah: Laughed at God’s promise of a son in old age but eventually trusted and obeyed, even in the terrifying command to sacrifice Isaac.
Moses: Felt inadequate and argued with God, asking Him to send someone else, but eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt.
Esther: Feared death when she approached the king uninvited to save her people but chose courage, saying, “If I perish, I perish”.
Jonah: Ran from God’s command to preach in Nineveh, ending up in a whale before finally obeying.
I’m sure Joseph had doubts and fear.
“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.”
Joseph and Mary never, ah, consummated their Marriage. Therefore, he knew she was not pregnant with his child. Seems like he got angry.
“Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.”
He was angry and feared both man and God. Her reputation was on the line as well as his.
“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 remember, Joseph was a religious and faithful man. He knew what the scriptures said.
“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.”
He understood what the Angel was talking about and decided to take the step of faith and obey God.
“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.” Matthew 1:18-25
Yes, fear and doubt are natural. But if we are to be obedient and faithful to God, we do it anyway.
Peter
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I’m sure as a human he experienced fear and doubt. I think God knew he would experience these feelings probably more than most which is why God had the angel appear to him. I’m guessing that was a moment he looked back on and held onto in moments of doubt and fear quite often.
The Bible doesn’t talk a lot about the emotions of the people being written about. Perhaps the biggest exception is David. But we can infer a lot by what they say and what they do. That makes the Bible relatable to many because a simple text can speak into many situations.
I think Joseph had a lot of pondering to do with what he was given. In the end he obeyed, married Mary and everything else that followed. He doesn’t get a front row seat in the text and he’s a wonderful example to all of us who’ve obeyed under cost. I call it the joy of obedience because there is a joy in the heart when you obey even though it has cost you something.