In one way, Joseph’s faith in God had to be a lot greater than Mary’s. After all, she knew without a doubt that she hadn’t been with a man and yet was pregnant. But Joseph had to believe all that without any proof – something that was quite frankly impossible in the ordinary course of events. Moreover, Gabriel showed up to Mary while she was wide awake, while an angel only spoke to Joseph in a dream. It would have been so easy for him to dismiss all this talk of Mary having a miraculous baby and simply to assume she had been unfaithful to him.

But even before Joseph had this dream, verse 19 makes it clear that he wasn’t the kind to lash out at Mary, to get even with her. No, his initial plan was to try to spare her as much of the inevitable shame and humiliation as possible. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all treat people who have hurt us with such grace?

And then he did something even more amazing – he believed what the angel had said to him in a dream, and he believed Mary. No, He probably didn’t understand everything the angel said – after all, we still wonder about exactly how the Holy Spirit caused Mary to become pregnant. But Joseph nevertheless chose to believe the impossible, and agreed to take Mary as his wife and raise the child that he knew wasn’t his. He did all this, not because it made any sense to him, but because God wanted him to.

Now, in verses 22 and 23 Matthew gives us yet another reason why Joseph may done what he did – because of the Old Testament prophecies. As a descendant of David, he had to know the predictions of a Messiah that would come from David’s line. But because Isaiah predicted that a virgin would bear a child, Joseph knew God could bring it about, no matter how little sense it made to him.

Is God calling you today to believe something that just doesn’t make sense? If He has said it in the Scriptures, if He has promised it, you can bank on it. Is God calling you to do something hat just doesn’t make sense – like be gentle to someone who has hurt you? If He has commanded it in the Scriptures, it’s best for you and for others. So let’s step out on faith, trusting the God for Whom nothing is impossible.

Matthew 1:18-25 (KJV)

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.