The First Christmas Dream

Matthew 1:18-25

THEME: Mary the virgin miraculously conceives, and her fiancé, Joseph, receives a visit from an angel. Mary and Joseph are married, and the baby Jesus is born.

RELEVANCE: To assure everyone that Jesus is the legal heir to the throne of David and the promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Him. Christ is the Savior and Messiah King. The question is, is he your Savior? Have you believed on Him for the forgiveness of sin? In addition, God guides His people into the details of His grand will. The question is, can He direct and/or redirect you? Will you abandon your will to embrace His? Before Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream, Jehovah God had one and it includes you and me. 

INTRODUCTION:

Joseph did not divorce his fiancé Mary when he discovered her pregnancy because the Lord revealed the truth to him. Through an incredibly important dream, God showed Joseph the miraculous nature of Mary’s pregnancy and the fascinating divine nature of her baby. All of this is a fulfillment of a 700-year-old prophecy concerning Israel’s promised Messiah’s birth in Isaiah 7:14, which says, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.”

Jesus is the virgin-born Son of God; in Christ God dwells with humanity! Truly, the conception of Jesus Christ is a supernatural and absolutely unique event beyond human logic or reasoning. There is nothing else like it in all of human history. Because of this, God sent angels to help certain people understand the significance of what is unfolding (see Matt. 2:13, 19; Luke 1:11, 26; 2:9). In this case, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream. Some dreams function in the Bible as a means to convey God’s message to people. The first Christmas dream tells us of the nature of our Messiah King and the wonder of his conception. It presents us an opportunity to ponder deeply God's grand dream for each of us....

LESSON:

Joseph's Dream Confirms Christ’s Divine Heritage and Virgin Birth (1:20-25)

While this gentle and deliberate man was mapping his strategy to protect Mary, “the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream.” As Joseph began to move forward on his decided course of action, God intervened to prevent a major mistake.

THE MESSAGE IN THE CHRISTMAS DREAM (Matt. 1:20-23): GOD REVEALS THE MESSIAH’S COMING

Angels are spiritual beings, created by God, who help carry out his work on earth. They brought God’s messages to people (Luke 1:26), protected God’s people (Dan 6:22), offered encouragement (Gen 16:7), and gave guidance (Ex 14:19). The angel who appeared to Joseph was one of God’s messengers, sent to correct and guide Joseph in his dealings with Mary. So, what was the message in the dream about? (Wiersbe)

It Confirms the Purity of Mary (Matt. 1:20):

Joseph is reassured that Mary’s pregnancy is caused by the Holy Spirit. Notice how God conveys this reality to Joseph.

The Specific Address.

This greeting, “Joseph, thou son of David,” was clearly designed to stir up the consciousness of his royal pedigree and to prepare him for the unusual advent of Israel’s Messiah-King. (MacDonald)

This signified that Joseph had a special role in a special event. The angel explained that Joseph was to take Mary as his wife, for the child was to be in the royal line of David. Joseph, as "son of David," would establish that royal lineage. God has an incredibly significant role for each of us as we partner with him in service and life-purpose.

The Specific Counsel.  “fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife”

Joseph was not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife; no matter what the social repercussions might be. Of course, she was already his wife because they were pledged, but the angel told Joseph that instead of divorcing Mary, he should complete the marriage process and take her home as his wife. Mary had committed no sin. He should have no misgivings about marrying Mary.

The Specific Reason. (1:20) “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost”

Any suspicions concerning her purity is groundless. Her pregnancy was a miracle of the Holy Spirit. God himself, with her consent, caused this pregnancy, and the child would be very special -- God's Son. Yes, Mary was a pregnant virgin and the baby is God the Son entering the world as the Son of Man. He would also be the fulfillment of prophecy, as described in the next verse.

When facing big decisions, some people freeze with fright. What if I decide wrong? What if I miss God's will? What if . . .? To make good decisions, first take all these worries and put them under God's promise: God cares for you, watches over you, and guides your steps. Joseph came to the best decision he could, but God had other plans and communicated them clearly. Most of our decisions will not be overruled by angels, but that's no reason for lack of confidence. To make good decisions, examine the Word on the subject, pray, evaluate all the options, talk with trusted Christian friends, then act in faith. God is with you, every step.

It Confesses the Person within Mary (Matt. 1:21):

The Angel of the Lord tells Joseph that Mary will deliver a son and his name will be Jesus. In fact, the angel proceeds to reveal the unborn Child’s sex, name, and mission. (MacDonald)

The Gender of this Unique Person.

Mary would bear a Son.  Isaiah 9:6-7, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

The Name of this Unique Person.

He was to be named JESUS, (which means “Jehovah is salvation” or “Jehovah, the Savior”). The name Jesus comes from the Hebrew name, Joshua. There were many Jewish boys with the name Joshua (or, in the Greek, Jesus); but Mary’s Boy was called “Jesus the Christ.”  The word Christ means “anointed”; it is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. He is “Jesus the Messiah.” Jesus is His human name; Christ is His official title! Beloved, there is a SAVIOR! (MacDonald)

The Mission of this Unique Person. (1:21)

True to His Name, He would “save His people from their sins.” This Child of destiny was Jehovah Himself, visiting earth to save lost humanity from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin, and eventually from the very presence of sin. From the very start, Matthew explains, to a Jewish audience, that Jesus would not save the people from Rome or from tyranny, nor would he set up an earthly kingdom immediately. Instead, Jesus would save people from sin.  How would Jesus save them from their sins? The answers to these questions will be found in the unfolding story of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. (MacDonald)

  

Jesus came to earth to save us because we cannot save ourselves from sin and its devastating and eternal consequences. No matter how good we are, we cannot eliminate our alienation from God. Only Jesus, the Messiah Savior, can do that. Jesus did not come to help people save themselves; he, and he alone, came to be our Savior from the power and penalty of sin. Hell is extremely real, and God’s grace is abundant—Jesus is the only Savior. Why not trust him? This is God's grand dream for you.

This Christmas it would be good to thank the Lord Jesus for his death on the cross for your sin, and then ask him to take control of your life. Believe that he died in your place and for your sin. Trust the truth that he was buried and rose again the third day as he promised. Know that he did all of this to save you. Your new life begins at that moment. Beloved, Jesus came on a mission of mercy to rescue lost and dying sinners from hell and bring us into a righteous relationship with God.

It Concerns the Prophecy about Messiah (Matt. 1:22-23):

This Son, conceived without the aid of a human father, is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s ancient prophecy. Again, in Isaiah 7:14, the great prophet says, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

This Prophecy was Fulfilled. (1:22)

As Matthew recorded these events, he realized that a new era had dawned in the history of God’s dealings with the human race. The words of a messianic prophecy, long dormant, had now sprung to life. Isaiah’s cryptic prophecy was now fulfilled in Mary’s Child! (Luke 1:69-70) (MacDonald)

The Prophecy Was Inspired.  (1:22)

You see, all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was “spoken of the Lord by the prophet.” Matthew claims divine inspiration for the words of Isaiah—the Lord had spoken by the prophet at least 700 years before Christ. This was God’s ancient prediction coming to fruition.

The Prophecy Was Miraculous.  (1:23)

The prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 includes the foretelling of a unique birth (“Behold, a virgin shall conceive”! In addition, think about the name assigned to God’s Son. “Emmanuel” describes who He is— “God with us.” Jesus Christ is God! We find this name “Immanuel” in Isaiah 7:14 and 8:8. The King, then, was a Jewish male who is also the divine Son of God. Immanuel might also be a designation for Christ which will be used primarily in His Second Advent. Note the thoughtfully crafted statement of this truth by the Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” God does the miraculous to save sinners like you and me. Hallelujah! What an excellent Savior! Amen! God is with us.

THE MARRIAGE FOLLOWING THE CHRISTMAS DREAM (Matt. 1:24-25): JOSEPH TAKES MARY TO BE HIS WIFE AND CHRIST IS BORN.

Joseph facing a difficult choice after discovering that Mary is pregnant, takes her as his wife. Though this may have been humiliating, Joseph chooses to obey the angel’s command to marry her.

Joseph Abandons His Plans. (Matt. 1:24) “did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him”

As a result of the angel’s intervention, Joseph abandons his plan to divorce Mary. He continues to recognize their betrothal until Jesus’ birth! Never fear leaving your designs for your future as you embrace God’s plan.

Joseph Adopts God’s Plans. (Matt. 1:25) “and took unto him his wife”

When Joseph awakes from this dream, he obeys the Lord’s guidance. He violates many national customs by immediately taking Mary into his home rather than waiting till the one-year time period of betrothal to pass. Thinking of what would be best for Mary in her condition, he brought her home and began to care and provide for her. (Walvoord)

We can appreciate God’s miraculous working in both Joseph and Mary. Although God’s actions were beyond their comprehension, and although they may have faced misunderstanding and questioning looks from those around them, Mary and Joseph willingly followed God’s guidance. How willing are we to do what God wants, no matter what? Can we follow God’s guidance without question?

Upon awaking, Joseph did not hesitate. The decision was no longer difficult, because he simply does what he knows God wants him to do. His actions revealed four commendable qualities: (1) righteousness (1:19), (2) discretion and sensitivity (1:19), (3) responsiveness to God (1:24), and (4) self-discipline (1:25). Does this accurately describe you and me? Are we cultivating these excellent characteristics? (Wiersbe)

 

Sometimes we avoid doing what is right because of what others might think. Like Joseph and Mary, we must choose to obey God rather than seek the approval of others.

Joseph Adjusts to God’s Plan. (Matt. 1:25) “he knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son:”

To squelch any doubts about the conception and birth of Jesus while Mary was still a virgin, Matthew explained that Joseph had no sexual relationship with Mary until after the birth of this Child, Jesus. Luke (Col. 4:14), records several details surrounding the birth (Luke 2:1-7). (Walvoord)

The statement in verse 25, also refutes the notion that Mary lived her whole life as a virgin; after Jesus’ birth, Joseph and Mary consummated their marriage, and Jesus had several half-brothers (Matt. 12:46). Two of Jesus’ half-brothers were prominent figured in the Jerusalem Church -- James, became the leader, and Jude, wrote the book that bears his name.

Other references which indicate that Mary had children by Joseph are Matthew 12:46; 13:55, 56; Mark 6:3; John 7:3, 5; Acts 1:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5; and Galatians 1:19. Joseph was not the inflexible person that is hard to work with because they must do everything one way. He was agile, nibble, flexible and capable of growing through sound God-given guidance. Are you willingly adjusting to God’s plan for you?  

Joseph Adopts God’s Son. (Matt. 1:25) “and he [Joseph] called his name JESUS”

In taking Mary as his wife, Joseph also took her Child as his adopted Son. This is how Jesus became legal heir to the throne of David. In obedience to the angelic visitor, he called the Baby’s name Jesus. Joseph did everything that God had told him! Thus, Jesus is the indisputable King of Israel and Savior of the world. As Joseph accepted the Lord, why don’t we do the same? After all this is God's dream for you and me. 

CONCLUSION: 

Thus, the Messiah-King was born. The Eternal One entered time. The Omnipotent became a tiny Infant. The Lord of glory veiled that glory in a human body, and “in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). GOD IS WITH US! God is still speaking to His people through the written Word of God. Read, study, meditate upon the Bible’s teachings to hear His great Voice. You do not need a dream necessarily to be certain you have heard from God, you can trust the Scriptures implicitly. As God guides respond in faith and obedience as Joseph did. Wonderful dreams, God's dreams, become reality when we live in concert with His plans. 

The Birth of The Messiah King

 

MATTHEW 1:18-25

Jesus Messiah is the virgin born Son of God.  In this incredible passage, Matthew relates the story behind Jesus’ birth, and how God overruled all actions threatening to thwart or skew His plan for our salvation. This Christmas story affords us many reasons to rekindle hope during this season of the year. 

Think for a moment about the term "providence." Providence refers to God's protective and provisional care of all creation.  It is His fascinating work behind the scenes, through angels, and people, regardless of the circumstances. He masterfully governs the universe providentially! He is still able to insert Himself or intervene in meaningful ways today. In fact it is His involvement and presence that gives us real reason to hope. Additionally, by this incredible passage we are assured that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, legal heir to the throne of David, and God’s promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Him. Beloved, this chapter in Matthew accounts for the birth of the Messiah King, Jesus The Lord of Glory. 

Matthew judicially lays before us the foundational proofs that Jesus Christ is indeed the Messiah-King.  He gives us his background, and heritage.  Since Messiah is a divine king, it is needful to demonstrate both his humanity and deity. Matthew anticipated this requirement and opened his Gospel with a careful account of the birth of Jesus Christ and the events that accompanied it. Beloved, this is real history! He presented two vital facts about the King, his human heritage (Matt. 1:1–17) as well as His divine heritage (Matt. 1:18–25). Since royalty depends on heritage, it was vital to establish the Lord Jesus’ rights to David’s throne as the Messiah-King Son of God (Wiersbe).

Furthermore, in this account we find not only a miraculous conception, but also an equally astonishing divine intervention. Yes, God involved Himself and His resources! This is shocking to a generation who characteristically does not "get involved" with other people's business! God's initiatives provide a rich source of instruction about our participating in the providential plan of God.  

Have you ever regret making a decision? If you are anything like me, then you have fervently wished that someone had warned you differently on more than one occasion!  Well, Joseph came real close to abandoning God’s plan for him, but God in his wisdom and providence prevented the grave mistake. Yes, God is a Master at intervention; He influences the outcomes in this account.  Actually He is continually actively perennially governing and preserving all facets of His universe. God guides and compels the cosmos to dance to His music and march to the beat of His drums! He exercises absolute lordship over His creation: everyone and everything depends on Him as the Creator-Sustainer. Because we believe in an all wise, all-powerful, and benevolent God of providence, we reject the ideas of chance, fate, coincidence, fatalism, nihilism, or luck as governors of our lives or futures. This same awesome God desires to direct and include us in the execution of His will—we are people of His destiny.  Joseph’s experience in this account illustrates one possible way all of this can unfold. First, notice...

Matthew’s Declaration of Christ’s Unique Birth (Matt. 1:18)

The facts surrounding this miraculous conception and birth are stated with dignity and simplicity.

The Circumstances Surrounding His Birth (Matt. 1:18)

The Messiah’s Divine Heritage Needed To Be Explained (Matt. 1:18). “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise” that is it was different from any of the births mentioned in the family tree previously referenced. This birth was so terrifically unique that it needed to be explained! 

The Messiah Was Born of a Virgin Woman Only.   Matthew 1:16 and 18 make it clear that Jesus Christ’s birth was different from that of any other person ever. Joseph was the “husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.” Jesus was born of an earthly mother without the need of an earthly father. This is known as the doctrine of the Virgin Birth. Matthew was pointing out that Joseph did not “beget” Jesus Christ (Gal. 4:4; Gen 3:15). Repeatedly we find the formula: “A begot B.” But now we have the record of a birth without a human father (MacDonald).  Jesus Christ is the sinless Son of God (Phil. 2:5-8)!

The Messiah’s Mother Was Only Espoused to Joseph (Matt. 1:18). No doubt Joseph anticipated all the workings of Hebrew marriage customs. Their marriage was arranged by their parents, and contracts had been negotiated. Since then, they have been considered married and were called husband and wife. It was not time for them to begin to live together, however. Instead, Mary continued to live with her parents and Joseph with his for one year. During this waiting period Mary would demonstrate her faithfulness and purity.  After this Joseph would go to the house of Mary’s parents and in a grand processional march lead his bride back to his home. There they would begin to share a home as husband and wife and physically consummate their marriage. At this point in the text they were only espoused. It relates to our modern engagement.

The Condition of Mary was Discovered by Joseph (Matt. 1:18).

During the waiting period of her betrothal, however, Mary was found to be with child. During this time, the young virgin Mary became pregnant by a miracle of the Holy Ghost. “She was found with child of the Holy Ghost…” An angel had previously announced this mysterious event to Mary in Luke 1:35. Joseph discovered His bride to be was with child! 

The Holy Spirit Crafted and Engineered Jesus’ Conception (Luke 1:26-35).

The Message—in Luke 1:26-31, the angel Gabriel visited a young Jewish virgin named Mary. He told her she would be having a Son. Mary’s obvious question was, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”  Though she believed the promise, she did not understand the performance. How could a virgin give birth to a child? (MacDonald)

The Miracle—to answer her, Gabriel spoke some of the most amazing words ever heard by the human ear: “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35). What an out of this world fantastic statement! 

First, Gabriel explained that this would be a miracle, the work of the Holy Spirit of God. Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, would not be the father of the child (Matt. 1:18–25), even though Jesus would be legally identified as the son of Joseph (Luke 3:23; 4:22; John 1:45; 6:42). Gabriel was careful to point out that the Baby would be a “holy thing” and would not share the sinful human nature of man. Jesus “knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21), “He did no sin” (1 Peter 2:22), and “in Him is no sin” (1 John 3:5). His body was prepared for Him by the Spirit of God (Heb. 10:5) who “overshadowed” Mary. That word is applied to the presence of God in the holy of holies in the Jewish tabernacle and temple (Ex. 40:35). Mary’s womb became a holy of holies for the Son of God! (The Bible Exposition Commentary)

What An Amazing And Touching Scene! An unknown Jewish virgin girl becomes the earthly mother of Jesus Christ, The Lord of Glory, by the miraculous conception of the Holy Spirit.

God Took on a Human Nature. Again the Holy Spirit creatively brought about the physical conception of the Lord Jesus (Luke 1:35). Mary’s Son would be God manifest in the flesh.  No language can elucidate, explain, enlighten, nor explicate the mystery that is shrouded here. This miraculous conception and Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ was necessary because of His divine nature and preexistence (Isa. 7:14; 9:6; Gal. 4:4). From this astonishing beginning, to the bittersweet end, the Holy Spirit was active in and through the life of The Lord Jesus.

But Mortal Man Ignored Christ Incarnation.  People have a hard time appreciating the truly spiritual and the unique holiness of this splendidly supernatural phenomena (1Cor. 2:11-16).  They can only criticize, speculate, discredit, bark at, and cast doubt! Likewise, a cloud of suspicion and scandal hung over Mary. In all of human history there had never been a virgin birth. When people saw an unwed woman who was with child, they had only one possible explanation.  Every child born into the world is a totally new creature. But, Jesus Christ, being the eternal God (John 1:1, 14), existed before Mary, Joseph, and any of His earthly ancestors. There is no human explanation for our Savior's birth; why not accept this divine one!

It is Still Correct to Believe in the True and Living God Who is Skilled in Miracle Making (Luke 1:37; Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17, 27; Matt. 19:26; Phil. 3:21). While God is NOT obligated to give miracles just because we want them badly, He is delighted to fire off a few to advance His awesome will!  Since God is able and willing to perform the inexplicable we have hope in every situation in life.  We never face a single day without the hope He inspires by His very presence and providential involvement. God insert Himself in our situations still! Do need some of His providential involvement? 

Joseph’s Distress about Mary’s Pregnancy (Matt. 1:19)

As any of us would expect, Joseph was perplexed, confused, distressed, and broken-hearted. Certainly he felt alone, betrayed, and vexed with this development initially. He felt exactly like we have felt after losing the affections of someone we loved deeply. His heart was broken and his dreams for them were shattered into a trillion irreparable pieces! 

He Felt Betrayed and Deeply Hurt (Matt. 1:19)

He Thought a Trust Had Been Broken.  Understand Joseph is heartbroken, assuming his pregnant wife-to-be has been unfaithful. In reality they had never engaged in marital relations and Mary had been faithful (Matt. 1:20, 23).

He Felt His Plans were For Ever Lost.  One can only imagine how confused, perplexed, hurt, and possibly angry he must have been. He genuinely loved Mary, and yet the word came that she was expecting. His dreams, goals, and plans for them were ruined and shattered! The sharpness of this apparent gross violation had been thrust through His aching soul! 

He Assumed The Worst Case Scenario! Joseph was planning to act on a faulty assumption! Though it is difficult, we must resist the temptation to jump to conclusions, get the whole story, wait and observe with fairness and discretion, remember to use objectivity, and make wise decisions free of emotional confusion (Prov. 18:13; Duet. 13:12-14; Jn. 7:51). Avoid making emotionally charged and hasty decisions. They almost always abandon God's will and plan for us!

He Decided to Reject and Put Mary Away (Matt. 1:19)

He Wanted to Act Discreetly. Not wanting to disgrace Mary, he determines to break their engagement secretly. To the Jewish people in that day, betrothal (engagement) was equivalent to marriage—except that the man and woman did not live together. They were called “husband and wife,” and, at the end of the engagement period, the marriage was consummated. His love for Mary and desire for justice led him to decide to break the betrothal by a quiet divorce. If a betrothed woman became pregnant, it was considered adultery (see Deut. 22:13–21). Unfaithfulness on the part of the betrothed was punishable by death. 

But, should not Joseph look up to God before he leap? Joseph, does your life plan correspond to God’s plan? It would be wise to seek God and wait for His direction before making a hasty decision (Ps. 27:14; 37:34; Prov. 20:22).

Waiting is Never Easy; especially when we feel pressured to make a decision. Some argue that we figure out what the loving thing to do is—and simply do it. But is it safe or right to act without a sense of acting in God’s will?

·                    Abraham could not wait for God to keep His promise of a son, and the result is the Arab/Israeli hostility that even today tears the Holy Land apart.

·                    Jacob chose to lie to obtain a blessing already promised him, and spent years separated from his family.

·                    The impetuous Peter was often rebuked by the Lord for his hasty actions.

·                    Even godly people like Peter and King Josiah can and do run ahead of God. How important that we learn to rely on the Lord, and wait prayerfully and confidently for His timing.

Should not we all thank God for His wisdom not only in planning good for us, but in knowing just how and when to bring that good to pass.

He Tried to Balance Fairness and Compassion (Matt. 1:19)

He Felt Divorcing Her Was a Just Decision (Justice). Accordingly, “being a just man” Joseph possessed a strong sense of right and wrong! Joseph did not yet know the true explanation of Mary’s condition. He might have been indignant at his fiancée on two counts: First, her apparent unfaithfulness to him; and second, though innocent, he would almost inevitably be accused of improper involvement. People would naturally imply He was involved somehow. 

Joseph keen sense of justice and right-ness raises a noteworthy emphasis here. We need more believers with a strong sense of “right and wrong” in our day of ultra tolerance for sin and wickedness. Genesis 6:9, These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Mark 6:20, For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Luke 2:25, And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. It is clear that he had not been involved in an unrighteous sexual relationship.  To Joseph that was definitely wrong behavior!

He Felt Preserving Her Was A Compassionate Decision (Mercy)—“not willing to make her a public example”. He wished to avoid the public disgrace which normally accompanied such an action.  He chose not to create a public scandal by exposing her condition to the judges at the city gate. Such an act could have resulted in Mary’s death by stoning (Deut. 22:23-24). His love for her enabled him to shield and protect her in spite of the pain in his own heart. This demonstrated how big this MAN Joseph was. There is no wonder why God trusted him with raising Jesus His Son! 

Christ is the Best Model of the Husband’s Role as Protector.  Ephes. 5:23, For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Consider what Barnes said regarding this peculiar statement.

“The idea here seems to be, that as Christ gave himself to save his body, the church; as he practiced self-denial and made it an object of intense solicitude [consideration] to preserve that church, so ought the husband to manifest a similar solicitude [care] to make his wife happy, and to save her from want, affliction, and pain. He ought to regard himself as her natural protector; as bound to anticipate and provide for her needs; as under obligation to comfort her in trial, even as Christ does the church. What a beautiful illustration of the spirit which a husband should manifest is the care which Christ has shown for his "bride," the church!”—Barnes’ Notes

In addition, Matthew Henry records,

“Christ's authority is exercised over the church for the saving of her from evil, and the supplying of her with everything good for her. In like manner should the husband be employed for the protection and comfort of his spouse; and therefore she should the more cheerfully submit herself unto him. So it follows, Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ (v. 24), with cheerfulness, with fidelity, with humility, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything-in everything to which their authority justly extends itself, in everything lawful and consistent with duty to God.” –Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible

What good wife, would not appreciate a godly man who protects her and looks out for her highest interest?!

But, Joseph Was Running Ahead of God and Leaving His Will.

All Of Us Have Hopes, Dreams, And Plans! The Bible never discourages us from looking to the future with bright expectations in Christ Jesus. However, passages like James 4:13–17, enforce a crucial qualification.  James 4:13-17, Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: ¹⁴ Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. ¹⁵ For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. ¹⁶ But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. ¹⁷ Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. As we make our plans, whether in business, in relationships, or in our personal lives, we must do so with a perspective on who is ultimately in charge—God! In other words, we need to plan with an attitude of humility and deference to the will of God (The Handbook of Bible Applications).

Our Tendency As Humans Is To Seek Control Over Our Circumstances. Certainly the Bible encourages us to take responsibility for our lives (1Thess. 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:12). But even so, we must ultimately submit to the sovereignty of God. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah likens us to clay in the hands of a potter; the divine Craftsman can do with us as He wishes (Is. 64:8; 1 Cor. 12:15–18). As a result, we need to submit every intention to God—even our business proposals and plans. He may allow us to proceed according to our desires; or He may decide to alter our plans according to His own purposes. In either case, we need to accept what He decides to bring into our lives, without arguing and complaining (Rom. 9:20–21; Phil. 2:13–14). Yield control to God; He really does know what He is doing! 

The result: tremendous peace! We can feel confident that an infinitely wise, powerful, and good God ultimately controls our lives and our world. Of course, that does not mean that life will always go the way we want. Sometimes, from our human perspective, it will seem unfair, maybe even absurd. Nevertheless, God rules the world. Humility demands that we acknowledge and accept what He allows to happen in it. Who’s in Charge Here? Always remember God is in total control (Rom. 8:28).

We Must Constantly Guard Against Jumping Ahead of God.  Running ahead never ceases to be a concern for the Christian in his or her walk with God. Each of us must diligently examine our motivations before we act. By cultivating an attitude of patient waiting, and looking to the Lord for guidance, we can give God control over the direction of our lives (The Handbook of Bible Applications).

Yet sometimes we come to feel lost and separated from God. At such times, we may long for the Lord to reveal Himself to us. Fortunately, our God is a loving God. Even when we stray, we need not fear permanent separation from God’s guiding hand. Our Good Shepherd will search for us like the lamb who strayed, and bring us back into His fold. And when He does, our sense of isolation will give way to the comfort and wonder of His presence. In history, God drew people to Himself through very personal encounters with Himself. What is it like to encounter God? How can we more fully experience the fellowship of the Lord? It may be time for a fresh encounter with the living God in accordance with the wisdom of the Apostle John (1 John 1:1-10).

Give God Your Lemons

I recall while in high school, a football coach barking this admonition at me, “Son, when life hands you a lemon, make lemonade! Now, get back out there!” His forceful counsel was the classic encouragement to make the best out of a bad situation. In affect ‘Coach’ was saying, be resilient, get tougher, refuse to quit, and turn this thing around to your advantage. In our modern marketing savvy world, I would be further encouraged to not only make good lemonade, but sell it at a nice profit!

All of this is well and good…in a certain way, I suppose...but…. One important ingredient is missing. What? Assurance, a guarantee…a sure promise is what is missing. The advice of my coach is purely dependent upon my efforts, strength, wisdom, and determination. You see in a purely human scenario, there is no one bigger than life who can guarantee everything will work out good in the end and ultimately. As Christians, we have a God who promises beneficial final outcomes no matter how many lemons life dumps on us! Consider this clear promise of God writing by the Apostle Paul,   

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28, 29)

Often when we are working through heartbreak, tragedy, disappointment, frustration, and bereavement, we find ourselves wondering…. Why? Why THIS? What "good" could possibly come out of THIS? God permits such challenges to invade our experiences to mold us into the image of His darling Son, Jesus Christ (8:29). As perplexing as it may seem, our Majestic LORD even has beneficial designs for pure chaos! Christ-likeness is His goal for us. He can even use bad things to mold and shape us into good (Christ-like) people. Our Lord is bigger than life!

 Joseph understood the way God works and fully embraced His will. He viewed  his experiences at the hands of his brothers and the time in Egypt as a sovereign choice and activity of a caring God. He firmly believed the ordeals he suffered were for his good and the good of others.  In Genesis 50:19-21, Moses writes,

And Joseph said unto them [his brothers who betrayed him], Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Because Joseph’s perspective was riveted on God’s designs, he realized his sufferings were beneficial to him personally, and the nations working through that awful enduring drought. He was freed from any entertainment of revengeful notions, bitterness, and hatred towards his brothers. He could treat his betrayer with extraordinary kindness because he believed God was handling the entire situation! Yes, Joseph understood the way God operates in a broken and fallen world. He believed with his entire being that God can overcome evil with good. Beloved, God was making lemonade with Joseph's lemons!

Not everyone in the Bible possessed such a clear perspective about troubles. Jacob, Joseph’s father, did not understand the way God works in troubles and he battled his burdens. Jacob struggled miserably during challenging times. In essence, his lack of faith and insight stirred him to resist, complicate, and belabor the outworking of God’s designs. He was reluctant to give God his lemons. Note the record in Genesis 42:35-36, where Moses says,

And it came to pass as they [Jacob’s sons] emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

In spite of Jacob’s past experiences, He did not have this confidence in God’s sovereign watch care over his concerns! In Jacob’s eyes trials, suffering, bereavement, and tragedy were just awful distresses that served no beneficial purposes at all! No doubt, Jacob was reaping some of the harvest of his deceptive youth; this is a safe assertion. One writer summarized Jacob’s lament over his circumstances in this way,

Joseph was gone; Reuben was disgraced; Judah was dishonored; Simeon and Levi had broken his heart; Dinah was defiled; Simeon was currently in prison; his beloved Rachel was dead; famine threaten the family.  Then came the demand from Egypt that young Benjamin must appear there before its governor before any additional food supplies will be authorized. Old Jacob wept and said: “all these things are against me.”

But he was completely wrong! God Almighty was busy working all these developments together for Jacob's good. It certainly did not seem this way at the time, but that does not change the truth. We can take the perspective of Jacob and struggle with hardnesses for the remainder of our days, or we could embrace them like Joseph realizing that troubles can be used of God to bring about the best outcomes! God is bigger than life, and He makes great lemonade! The Apostle Paul agrees in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, affirming,

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Beloved, God is continually arranging every event in life for our ultimate good and His glory (Rom 8:28).  No one handles the worst things a broken world can belch out at us transforming them into “good” like God can! I know the pains and sufferings we have experienced may argue against this truth, but they are powerless to change or diminish it. Do not believe your pain; believe your God. Again the Apostle Paul says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Again God's purpose is to use even pain to conform each of us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ (8:29). Yes, God uses the Bible, Christian teachers, faithful biblical counselors, pastors, and good schools, but He also uses the dark experiences of life as well. Do not respond to this with perplexity; respond with faith in the character and promises of God.

Now, does this passage hold up under close scrutiny? Does Romans 8:28, 29 really promise all that I claim it does? Well, I did a little extra research and read after many other writers concerning these incredible verses/promise. Here is what I came up with as we consider Romans 8:28, phrase by phrase:

·       The Surety: “And we know”: the idea of the word “know” is absolute full perfect knowledge. We should be absolutely confident that God is working all things together for our good.

·        The Quantity: “that all things”: every experience and every event without any exceptions. This is full-orb and comprehensive—all encompassing! No development, situation, or circumstance is excluded. All means all!

·        The Activity: “work together”: refers to being fellow-workers or helpers together on a project—cooperating in a certain task—working in concert. The same idea is clearly conveyed in Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Thus, our Lord uses every circumstance as His “helper,” “co-worker,” or “partner” in the task of making us Christlike, and to bring Himself glory. He is fully able to produce beauty from ashes!

·        The Longevity: “work together”: the verb tense indicates a continuous working influence. God’s work is always a present action which reveals how He is in full CONTROL of our lives and everything that touches them for the entire length of our earthly existence and on into eternity! His attention is constantly on our spiritual welfare!

·        The Quality: “for good”: a reference to our ultimate good, of course. Thus, that which is good in its character or construction is good in its effect! It is a good God bringing about a good end for His children. The nature of our final destiny can only be described as good because a good God is on our case! The following verses illustrate this truth; they employ this same word “good.” Consider Matthew 7:17, “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” Now look at Luke 8:8, which says “And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” With God, it’s all good!

So you have some challenges huh? Yea, me too. I know it seems there are times in life when an entire grocery cart full of lemons has been dumped on you all at once. For you life has been one giant lemon! It has turned completely sour...there is no sweetness anymore.... I mean the car is broke, the rent is overdue, your faith is wobbling, your job is laying folks off, and your heart has been broken for months.... Lemons, lemons, more lemons! Life only gives you more lemons, and you are tired of people telling you, "When life hands you lemons make lemonade." They don't understand, and they don't know what you have been through, or what you are dealing with. They have no clue about what you have been navigating for years...things have been messed up for decades now. You're tired of trying only to realize another failure.... You have concluded that life is against you. Life's a giant lemon and you have grown to hate the sour taste of it all!

From your past you can recall some hard times, but for a long time you had the hope things would get better. The problem is...it never really did...in fact things got worse. Even though you tried hard to make life work...things only got worse and then worse. What can you do? Is it really hopeless?

Well, believe it or not there is hope and a special promise from God with your name on it. Yes, my friend it is safe to hope again because of the promise of Romans 8:28, 29. But understand your hope is not in how hard you try or how smart you are. It is in the Lord the great "Lemonade Maker!" Instead of trying to make your own lemonade, give God your lemons and trust Him to sweetened life and remove the bitterness that is presently stealing your joy and peace. Beloved, it is time to give God your lemons.

So, there you have it; God makes fantastic lemonade. Therefore, give Him your lemons…all of them. Come on...give them to Him. Place everyone of them in His capable hands. Do not hold on to a single slice. Since God is bigger than life, he can make lemonade with your lemons. You are assured of this by the promises of God. Beloved, our lives are not controlled by impersonal and insensible forces such as luck, chance, karma, the stars, the alignment of the planets, or fate! Nor are we merely “dancing to our DNA!” No, we are in the omnipotent hands of Almighty God. He can make lemonade with our lemons! Stop talking about your lemons. Stop comparing your lemons with others. God knows what to do with lemons; He designed them! Therefore, even now...give Him your lemons. Yes, give Him your "stale lemons." Those that have been lying around your life perpetuating your failures, mistakes, and problems from your past, give them to the Lemonade Maker. Give the Lord your "old lemons;" all that bad stuff from your childhood that has haunted you throughout your life must be surrendered to Him. Yield it over to the One who works it together for your good. Give Him your "rotten lemons" all that absolute junk that you are convinced has no useful purpose or value at all. If you feel it is too late for you and nothing can be salvaged in your situation...still give God your "rotten lemons." Be assured He knows what He is doing. Give God your "fresh lemons;" that stuff that went wrong last week, last night, or this morning. Let the God Who is bigger than life turn your lemons into sweet refreshing lemonade! Can't your life use some refreshing about now? Isn't it time for some fresh hope and promise? Beloved, we are assured of this. Refresh your tired and perplexed soul with this incredible truth! Drink deeply from this well of promise, hope, grace, and assurance (Rom. 8:28, 29). Our wonderful, personal Lord, is too loving to be unkind, too powerful to be incompetent, and too wise to make a mistake. What Great ASSURANCE we have throughout our lives because of Him! Now, about those lemons….