Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 7:14
An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.
Matthew 1:20b-22
Joseph’s world had changed dramatically with the news that Mary, his fiancé, was pregnant and the child was not his. He was a good and just man, and so as he went to bed, his mind was wrestling with how he should end his engagement quietly. And in the night God gives him clarity through the words of His sent angel.
The angel reminded Joseph of his true identity.
The angel addresses him as a son of David. As Joseph wrestled with the details of his present life, he was reminded that he was a descendant of a king after God’s own heart who had been given magnificent promises regarding the enduring of his dynasty and an everlasting throne.
The angel comforts Joseph and tells him not to fear.
The first words spoken are words of comfort. As Joseph works through the decisions he should take and the actions he should make, the words, “Do not be afraid!” must have reassured him and quietened his troubled mind and heart. God had sent his angel – God knew all that this just man was going through, and God invites him to not be frightened.
The angel tells him what to do.
“Take Mary as your wife.” Joseph had made a decision to divorce Mary quietly to save her from shame but now he is being asked to stand with her and to marry her. This would no doubt mean running the gauntlet of gossip and sharing Mary’s seeming shame, but Joseph was not to worry. Why?
The angel gives him a picture of the future.
This baby is God’s work in Mary and will bring to birth a Saviour, saving his people from their sin. This baby is God’s promise of old fulfilled. And when this baby is born God will have come to live among us – and Joseph will have the unimaginable privilege of rocking him in his arms.
The staggering lesson from these few verses is this. When life seems to take an unexpected turn and we are not sure of the next step, that can often be the moment when God is birthing his greatest work in us. Listen for his voice, reminding you of who you are and inviting you to trust and not be afraid. Listen for his instruction telling you what you must do and be prepared to see your life in the context of God’s eternal story.
As we celebrate Christmas let us reassure ourselves with this great truth – God is with us, and he is not planning to leave.