Be Patient Joseph, God Will Sort it Out

The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly. But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.” When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.

God’s will is often confusing.

Explanation

Mary and Joesph were engaged

Legally binding

Usually a year long period

During the Time the man was to build their house.

They were forbidden to “Come together” until the wedding day.

Joseph’s predicament

He is feeling betrayed

Crushed

Humiliated

Afraid

God’s will works in confusing ways.

Joseph made a plan, assuming His reaction was righteous.

God’s will is confusing because we do not always have all the facts.

Communicable and incommunicable

Love, Goodness, kindness, patience and forgiveness

All-knowing, All powerful, all present, Holy

Isaiah 55:8–9 HCSB

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

At the same time Joseph is looking to put away his wife, God is wanting to bring people to him.

Illustration

I am comforted by Is. 55.

45 years to be God

I need to be patient and allow God to sort it all out.

Jeremiah 29:11 HCSB

For I know the plans I have for you” —this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

That is to Israel not individuals.

Like Joseph we react to God’s will based on our own inconvenience.

That selfishness impacts how we view situations and how we prioritize the situation

(Joseph was worried about people’s thoughts)

Joe never planned to be a step dad (major crisis)

Argumentation

At times God’s will seems confusing- even hurtful.

Illustration: The OG Joseph of the OT. Had a vision from God that lead to him to be beat up, sold into slavery, and imprisoned before finally becoming influential.

Joseph was patient until God sorted it out

Application

God’s will is confusing because His ways are not your ways. However, His ways are for the good of all, not just yours.

Picture god’s will is confusing and questioned especially when we are doing what we believe to be right.

often God’s plans are noticed by the world and we are viewed as fool.

Transition: When we face seasons that seem as though God has forgotten us, intentionally hurt us, betrayed us or that standing up for what is right caused us embarrassment we must be reminded That God operates out of Holiness, first and love second.

God’s wisdom brings comfort.

Matthew 1:20–23 HCSB

But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

Explanation

It was the angel who brought God’s word back to Jospeh’s mind.

The comfort He received was not in the book itself, but the source it points to.

God knew before hand how He would bring Jesus into the world to save us from our sins.

Illustration

Artificial insemination allows us to better understand this process without it having to be sexual at all.

“Hovered over”

sinful seed of one man...

Argumentation

There are a few times this “hovering” of the Spirit of God is seen working.

Every time it’s used to ensure the accuracy of every detail.

The Spirit of God hovered over the earth at creation

The birth of Christ

The writing of the Scriptures

It is interesting that God felt those three things needed most special care to assure that they were not mishandled.

They are the three things that man could never pull off if they tried. Only God could sort it out.

Like Jospeh, when we allow the Word into our situation we are given greater understanding to what God is doing.

Application

Joseph assumed His response to divorce her was righteous. Until he was reminded of God’s word.

We need to let God’s word have 1st place in our lives.

James 1:5 HCSB

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.