The Dream of a Just Man

Introduction

Joseph’s Response

What we know about Joseph:

Legally married to a woman who is now pregnant before consumation.

A Just Man

Legally blameless. He seeks divorce in accourdence with Rabinic tradition which said a betrothed woman who was defiled was unmarriable.

Even Jesus, who was firmly against divorce is almost any circumstance, gave an exception in the case of physical adultery (Matt 19:9).

There is a sense that Joseph, being a just man, seeks divorce so that his reputation for being a law-abiding man stands and no one assumes his own immorality.

Joseph proves his righteous, faithful attitude with quick obedience when new revelation is given.

Joseph is also a merciful man. He is unwilling to expose Mary to the humiliation of becoming an example of gross immorality.

He doesn’t persue her death, likely out of ignorance. If she had consented to sexual misconduct her life would be on the line according to Deuteronomy 22:23. Joseph seems to keep himself ignorant of this detail so that he won’t be forced to bring a charge against her.

Son of David. We already know that Joseph is of the royal Davidic line from the genealogy, but the angel points this out specifically in the dream. This detail is probably the most important thing about this man that we really don’t know very much about.

The Dream

Joseph seems to have been the thoughtful type, considering these things over some time. Rarely does a decision made in the moment prove wiser than one mulled over in prayer and serious consideration. It is during this time that God reveals his will to Joseph.

Joseph is not rebuked in the dream because, although his actions lack trust in his betrothed, he has not done any wrong or committed any sin. In a normal situation, his response would not be wrong, which is why God gives him a very direct, personal revelation.

A while ago I preached a sermon on angels, and what wee know about them is that they are messengers who,

Act on God’s behalf to fulfil God’s will.

Give revelation from God as mediators.

Serve the saints of God as part of how they serve Christ.

The Angel’s message,

“Joseph, son of David.” Joseph’s importance in this story is primarily his unpressed claim to the Davidic throne and his righteous character. Not only is Joseph a physical son of David, but spiritually as well, who seeks to walk in obedience to God in heart as well as action.

“Do not fear” the angel is not addressing Joseph’s emotions, but his intended actions. He is not to hold back from marriage because of the apparent immorality, but rather to go forward with the marriage. What is important is that Joseph obeys.

“to take Mary as your wife.” The child would then be born in Joseph’s house and legally be his.

“for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” Again, Joseph is not rebuked for his intention to divorce her, but rather given new information that will lead him, a just man, to conclude that divorce is not right in God’s eyes in this case.

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”

Being in his house, the son will be legally Joseph’s. Joseph is given the task of naming the child as a sign of fatherly attention. Leon Morris writes, “By giving the name Joseph officially accepted the child this gave the child the status of a descendant of David.” In Isaiah 43:1 God comforts Israel with these words, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” God calling Israel by their name, and indeed giving them that name, God claims them as his own child. Joseph is being told by the angel to do the same.

“For he will save his people from their sins.”

In Greek, a pronoun is added that emphasizes he. It could be translated He alone, he himself, or he and no other. This is not to be one of many saviours, not another judge or prophet, and not even another human Davidic King tainted by sin. He will not be merely the vessel of God’s salvation, he will be the one doing the saving.

“his people.” Referring immediately to Israel, but also open for all people whom he will call to himself, as Peter preached to the Jews and Proselites in

Acts 2:39 ESV

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

The people are his. While leaders like Moses did talk about Israel as his people, the is most true for Jesus, who is the one with whom the poeple have a covenant. To him they are responsible and before him they will be judged. He will also take the role of shepherd and leader and take on the responsability of dealing with their sins.

“From their sins.” Matthew is careful to specify the kind of Salvation that was promised from the Messiah. It reminds us that we cannot judge the success of Christ’s victory with physical evidence of victory, such as a royal crown and the heads of his enemies. “Save” has the idea of redemption attached to it and although the Jews were looking to be redeemed politically, God has come to address their real need: deliverance from the sin that put them in bondage in the first place.

It is sin that has always seperated the people of God from God’s presence and from his good plan for them. Their bondage to the Roman’s is due to sin and God is here to treat the disease, not the symptom or consequence. The resistance to his ministry, both then and now, is founded on a shortsightedness that is caused by sin and makes it impossible to see sin as the cause. Like how leperousy not only eats away as flesh but gives the sufferer no ability to feel its affects, sin eats away at our souls and convinces us that our biggest problem lies elsewhere.

The only way to have a fruitful life in God is to accept what Christ came to do, and that is to save from sin. This implies that our sin is our greatest problem. If we don’t see that, we will either see the Gospel as irrelavant, impractical, or something to accept before moving on to the real solutions for our lives. Until you see your sin as the biggest problem in your life, you will never understand why Jesus came. Until you feel the pain and misery that your sin is you will find no relief in Christ for anything that hurts you. You are sure to be discontent with Jesus and his good news of the Kingdom if you see your hardships as being larger or of greater concern than your sin.

Graciously, Joseph is told the purpose of this supernatural birth and we understand why it is so important that Joseph be the legal father. Through Joseph Jesus is legally a son of David and a claiment to that Throne. Joseph understands he is only one small part of an enourmous and eternal plan and the small glimpse he gets shows him some of this depth. Joseph will not accept Jesus as his son for his own sake, or even for Mary’s sake. He will accept him as his son because it is part of God’s plan to redeem his people, and there is nothing a just Israelite wants more.

For many Christians, there is a strong desire to feel like God is doing something special in your life. That somehow you will be used mightily and with visible glory for the Kingdom. These thoughts can easily be self-centred, like a vassel who is happy to serve their King as long as they are granted a high position in his court or counsel. While Joseph plays an important role, not much is known about him and in the grand scheme of things he as an individual is not that important. But that’s not what matters, what matters is the faithfulness with which Joseph obeys. There is nothing to gain in dreaming of greatness and a desire for Christianized glory is antithetical to our calling. Don’t spend your life hopeing that God will use you in a big or visible way, spend your life making yourself small and Christ great.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it is Joseph’s response to the angel that proves he is a just, or righteous, man. He believes God and it is counted to him as righteousness. You could argue that Joseph seems to show more faith than Abraham did in a similar situation in Genesis 17. There, Abraham laughed at the idea that Sarah would be the mother of the promised child. It was hard for him to believe God when it came to an impossible pregnancy, but Joseph shows his faith right away by a quick obedience. Nothing displays faith as clearly as the works it produces. Works are the fruit that proves the tree is good. Obeying God is a sign of loyalty, trust, belief in his wisdom, and submission to his plans.

Obedience to Revelation: Joseph follows what revelation he has until he is given new revelation, which causes him to change. When it comes to our behaviour in this world, the Word of God is our foundational rule. By it we live, and when our understanding of it develops we repent and change our lives to be consistent with the will of our Lord. We count ourselves as not belonging to ourselves, but belonging to another. To hear is to obey and give ourselves to the will of God.

Little concern for our own needs and desires before the will of God. God does not mean for us to be unfeeling creatures with no desires, dreams or hopes, but he does mean for us to submit these desires to him.

Being used by God. Usually people don’t want to be used. Knowing that you are simply a tool or pawn in someone else’s agenda can be humiliating and even frightening. It attacks our sense of individuality, our self-sufficiency, and even our value as human being when we are used by another. But when we are used by God we should feel blessed that we are counted worthy of such a great task. We were created for nothing less than to be used by God for the praise of his glory. Joseph would no doubt lose respect in his community and have a stain on his social life that would remain for the rest of his life. He embraces a marriage with a child not biologically his and embraces that child as his own. If this demand were coming from a man it would seem tyranical, but from God it is a price worth paying. Before men we stand as equals, entitled to fairness and basic human rights, but before God we stand as slaves that should be ready to do his will.

God used a man open to hear the Word of God and put it into action. A man who made biblical righteousness his practice, who was willing to show mercy when he believed he had been sinned against, and was quick to change his mind when further truth was given to him. These are the kind of people God is eager to use in his Kingdom, to bring himself glory by reflecting his character in us. Are you eager to be so open to his plans? Are you willing to be used? Are you so submissive to his Word that what you want isn’t relevant, only what glorifies God? It was through this act of faithful obedience that God sovereignly designated the incarnate Christ as the Dividic King, and so let us consider our own loyalty to our God and pursue such a heart.