I asked Sweet William to give me a man’s perspective.  How might Joseph have felt upon learning his wife-to-be was pregnant when he knew without a doubt it was not his child?

Betrayal.  Hurt.  Anger.  Disappointment.  Despair.  Sadness.   What will people think?

Most likely, Joseph wrestled with those human emotions.  The dilemma in which he found himself would have tested his righteous indignation against his honorable concern for his betrothed, Mary.

He found himself in a place no self-respecting, first century groom wanted to be.  Not ever.

But then in a dream an angel appeared to Joseph with words he didn’t expect:

“Joseph, son of David.”

How long had it been since he even thought about being in the family line of King David?  Sometimes we just need to be reminded who we are.

We can get beaten down by the negatives coming full force at us.  Failure. Broken. Convicted. Divorced. Victim. Sinner.  And we wear those inscriptions like weights that pull us into deep chasms and it seems impossible we will ever climb out.

Then a hope-message comes with words we’ve only dreamed about.  Called. Chosen. Redeemed. Justified. Sealed. Forgiven.

Like Joseph, there are a lot of “whys?” in my world.  He could not see the greater plan in his small world of Nazareth and wood working and preparing to marry.  He had his own small plans. Suddenly they were all jumbled and confused.  Strange news and even stranger explanations.  Strange dreams and strange instructions from a strange night visitor.  Nothing left to do but forsake the known for the unknown road ahead of him and trust the I AM who has no unknowns.

Joseph, son of David, chosen to be Mary’s husband and the miracle Child’s earthly father and protector.  You are an indispensable piece of God’s mysterious plan.

And strange as it may seem, so am I.  So are you.