When Scripture goes against your common sense

What do we do when Scripture goes against your common sense? Or even when God tells us something that seems hard to reconcile. It takes real faith when we are challenged to change course or do what does not seem like the most common way of proceeding.

I know we have heard our ways are not his ways and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts but we have become accustomed to working things out in our head on what our next move will be but when we talk to God he changes our plan.

Todays text takes us to Matthew’s version of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. We know that Luke told us that Mary got a visit from Gabriel and he announced she would conceive the son of God.

Matthew shows us Joseph response to the news. Joseph being a just man had decided to put Mary away quietly and get a divorce. She could have been put to public shame. There could have been a community outcry because from the eyes of many she had slept with another man who had got her pregnant. Now i am sure all of us know someone who had an un expected pregnancy. Some of may even know someone who got pregnant by a man other than their fiancee or husband. And a few of us may even know someone who got pregnant by another man and pass it off as their fiancee or husband’s child.

These things happen. Even though it might bring some embarrassment it is not a deed that is punishable by death.

Joseph had mad up his mind to to quietly try to settle the matter. He would likely move on and find another wife and allow Mary who was with child to birth and raise the mystery baby.

Now there are some things we can assume. I am sure that Mary had a conversation with Joseph about her encounter with Gabriel. I am sure she told him that the angel said the Holy Ghost would come upon he and she would conceive. We are not sure when she had the conversation with Joseph but it likely as soon as she realized she was pregnant.

Joseph had trouble wrapping his mind around these events. Can you blame him? This was way too much for him to believe. We know that if had believed he would not have sought to divorce her. Yet he was trying to handle this situation the best way he could. That’s when the scripture goes against his common sense. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord has spoken by the prophets.

This becomes a common theme when it came to Jesus. His family escaped to Egypt so that Hosea 11:1 Out of Egypt I call my son.

Its in Matthew 2:23 we know Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus went to live in Nazareth 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. (Mt 2:23).

Even when Jesus was in the Garden as they arrested him he said Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. 56 But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” (Mt 26:55–56).

There will be times in our lives when it may seem scripture is going against us. When we have been wronged and want to really take care of that person and we are reminded vengeance is not ours but the Lord. Or when we are told to love our enemies as ourselves. or go two miles with someone that never showed appreciation for the first mile you went. Talk to me somebody.

When are struggling after we paid our tithes and the enemy say skip paying tithes. Then we read will a man rob God?

So sometimes scripture will go against our common sense.

But the Bible said

5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;

And lean not unto thine own understanding.

6  In all thy ways acknowledge him,

And he shall direct thy paths.

Do you know the following verse in Proverbs 3 says

7  Be not wise in thine own eyes:

(Pr 3:5–7). (2009).

So how do we reconcile scripture for our own thinking?

First we must be Just

Verse 1:19 describes Joseph as a just man. What is a just man? Its a righteous person. Just is the root word of justice. Micha 6:8 8  He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic 6:8).

I understand we must show mercy if we are to receive mercy. Kindness goes a long way. People will forget what you say but will not likely forget how you made them feel. When we operate from a position of justice it allows us to hear from God clearly. He leads us in the paths of righteousness for his name sake. See ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all these things shall added unto you. The just shall live by faith. It takes faith to believe God when it goes against your common sense.

God uses just to show the world who belongs to him. It the just man response that honors God. Job said though you slay yet will I trust him.

Secondly know scripture. The angel did rely of Joseph saying ok. He pointed him to scripture. 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us).

(Mt 1:22–23). He pointed him to Isaiah 7:14

When we know scripture we can confirm what the Lord is telling us, They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.

Scripture reminds us that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Reminds us that he will never leave us or forsake us! Isaiah reminds us

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

2  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Is 43:1–2). (2016).

The world may tell you give up throw in the towel. In tough times go to Isaiah 43

Finally Do just God tells you to do

its there 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. (Mt 1:24–25).

we must get in the practice of doing what God has said.

That means be odedient. We know obedience is better than sacrifice.

We have an example Philippians 2 Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Php 2:5–8).