Joseph

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.” _{Matthew 1:20,21}

Joseph was an honourable man, a man whose lineage is traced back to king David via Solomon. When Mary was found to be pregnant, and knowing that he was not the father, he did not want her to be humiliated in any way, such was his love for her. Joseph considered the circumstances and the consequences of his intended actions carefully and, I am sure, prayerfully; this was a difficult situation for a man of God.

I have wondered why the angel was sent to Mary and to Joseph separately. Surely it would have been so much easier for them to be told together about what was going to take place. This would have negated any doubts that Joseph had about what Mary told him.

What I see in this is that each of us must come to terms with our own faith. We need to trust God individually and we need to understand our own path. Your faith and your belief does not cover me, and vice-versa. Joseph’s path was not determined by his trust in Mary, but by his trust in the Lord.

Just like Joseph, we each need to hear the voice of God for our own journey, and like him, we have no need to fear any situation when God is in the midst of it.