Imagine being chosen and called by God to be the stepfather for His son!  This was who Joseph the son of Jacob, the son of Matthan, 14 generations after the exile, was called to be.  Joseph, like Jeremiah, was clearly known by God before he was formed in his mother’s womb.  What a destiny! Let’s start with his name which means God/he will add. Interestingly, his father’s name was Jacob just like Joseph of old. Joseph was created to add God’s value to his world versus subtract value. His value was not just being gifted with divine visitations, dreams and their interpretations but entrusted on assignment by God to teach Jesus how to be human.

Yet at the very beginning, Joseph had no idea what awaited him.  Like most young men, Joseph made plans to settle down, have his own family, live a comfortable life with a lovely young woman who shared his values, Mary.    Into this fairytale enters the God who formed and shaped him for such a time as this and throws Joseph’s life into turmoil.  Mary, his beloved, tells him that she is pregnant through the Holy Spirit. How is that even possible, Holy Spirit? Joseph probably thinks.  There goes his plan through the window. Like Mary, Joseph is not impulsive but is one who carefully considers his actions.   Being a man who focused on doing the right thing, he decided that he would break the engagement quietly and not disgrace Mary publicly. Having decided this, Joseph was not one to rush and so considered his decision and even slept on it.  Wait a minute! Shouldn’t he let everyone know that Mary cheated on him and is now blaming it on God? 

But oh! Joseph was a considerate and caring man chosen by God.  God knew that Joseph had the prefect temperament to handle the responsibility of being the earthly Father of Jesus from day one.  God knew that he could trust Joesph to do the right things decently and in order, making the right decisions needed for his family, to embrace difficulties and not run from them.  Joseph was the father who taught Jesus: to use his hands, wisdom, knowledge, to walk, talk, to ask questions, to provide for and care for family and most importantly about the business of his Heavenly Father.

God knew that Joseph was decisive yet open to the disruption of his plans by God himself.  God gifted Joseph with discernment, with the ability to see and hear God speaking clearly to him in his sleep and to act accordingly every time.  Notice Joseph was ready to uproot as soon as God said the word and did so several times from Jerusalem to Egypt to Nazareth.  Joseph the dreamer carried out his assignment, to raise Jesus, laying the foundation so that Jesus could after 30 years boldly undertake his 3 year life-changing ministry,

God has chosen and given each of us our unique assignments to purposefully accomplish what he has spoken. How many of us are paying attention to what God is saying to us? Are we missing out on God’s direction because he is speaking to us in unconventional ways repeatedly and we are not paying attention? How responsive are we to accomplishing the words God has sent for us to do?  Like Joseph let us be open to what God has called us to do.

Prayer

Father, like Joseph, teach us not to run from difficulties but to embrace the assignment you created for us from the beginning of time.  Your thoughts and ways are not our own so lead us as only you can.  In Jesus’ name Amen.