Series: Advent
Matthew 1:18-25 ESV
As I grow older I’ve come to realize that blessings often come in very unexpected ways.
Take Joseph as an example.
Matthew 1:18-25 tells us, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him 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 fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”
Many of us have read or heard this scripture many many times. Some of us know exactly what the next sentence says even before we read it. I have found that there is a trick we can do when we are reading a familiar passage like this. It helps us to slow down.
As you read the words, stop and consider the meaning of each phrase. For example in this case stop after you read ‘the birth of Jesus Christ’. You might recall hearing that phrase as a child. What did you think when you were seven years old? Or maybe you can go back further and remember hearing it when you were four or five.
As you read it today, pray and ask the Spirit to help you and be your guide as you consider each phrase. Think about the meaning. Read slowly…
As I practiced slowing the phrases down I really noticed the phrase, “as Joseph considered these things.” As I stayed with that phrase and thought, really thought about Joseph I sensed and felt a huge weight. It was the weight Joseph was carrying. We know at this time, Hebrew men could not take a wife until they had established a trade and had a home for his wife. Hebrew women at that time would have had to establish her capability to have a child. So, as soon as a girl began her monthly cycle she could marry. In most cases the girl could have been around twelve years old. Because it took time for a Hebrew man to establish a trade and build a home many scholars believe that Joseph was much older than Mary. He could have been in his mid to late twenties when they married.
So as Joseph was considering his next steps he might have remembered how long he waited to prepare to marry and how hopeful he was when he met Mary.
Now we are told an Angel appeared to Joseph in a dream.
If you had a dream like the one he had, would you believe the dream was from God?
What did Joseph think about the dream?
Now, read the passage again. As you read the entire passage, spend time in the moment of each phrase and put yourself in Joseph’s shoes.
What would you think?
How would you feel?
Would you immediately know this was an Angel from God or would you think you must be day dreaming?
Remember that every person might react differently in that moment. What do you have felt?
Stop as you read and let the Spirit be your guide.
As you consider each phrase keep Joseph in mind.
You can also dig deeper if you choose to read the ancient text. In today’s world it’s not difficult to do. If you want to read this passage in the Koine Greek you can go to a program (Bible Hub or another program like it) and look it up in the ancient language. You can sit with each ancient Greek word and consider the meaning.
It’s almost a guarantee that reading the original text will slow the passage down.
Spend as much time with the text as the Spirit guides you.
Spiritual Practice: Choose one word from the text
Sit with that word and wait for God to show you how that applies to you today.
In God, Deborah
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