Matthew 1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
It begins with a seemingly boring genealogy. Why is the genealogy even there? To provide some proof to the authenticity of the claim? Perhaps. Maybe there are countless (infinite?) reasons why Matthew began his gospel this way. The historians have their reasons. The evangelicals their own.
I saw something a little different this go round. I see the formation of the family. The hand of God orchestrating the most incredible of works by placing who where and when in an exact time and place to produce an exact purpose. Eventually the obvious birth of the Christ; but something more. An inclusion of people who had or have no business on their own merits to be included. Not one person in the genealogy (except for Jesus) were exceptional enough to merit rights to be included. Not even Abraham. For as attention grabbing as his faith was, Abraham was in no way a spiritual guru who always lived a life of faith that always pleased God. Faith is a funny thing. Those who direct it towards God and Jesus Christ can never take credit for doing so; for it is a gift from God who is the author and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2). So even Abraham the father of the faith for many, can't take credit. Or glory (same thing) for trusting God.
Take Joseph and his response as well. He is thinking about this situation; my bride to be is knocked up. She claims the baby daddy is none other than God Himself. Joseph hasn't had "relations" with her yet. (So much that happens in this story is so not of this world) This guy Joseph would've stuck out like a sore thumb in our world today. He was a "just" man. This means he and his word could probably be trusted. He treated people fairly. He tried not to steal, cheat, lie nor have sex before marriage. He is so just that before the angel appears, Joseph is trying to figure out some way to protect Mary without compromising his own morals and values. Mary was obviously more important to him than any other human. Their relationship gets overlooked in the Nativity story but the fact that this "just" man was willing to go to such great lengths to protect Mary says a whole lot about him and their relationship. It says to me that there's no way any of this, including the response of the just Joseph, could have happened if it weren't God doing the happening.
But like any man it seems that Joseph had some doubts about the authenticity of this whole thing. Think about the kind of faith it takes to really trust God with something like this. Before the angel appears and tells Joseph, "do not be afraid to take Mary, your wife" Joseph is mulling this whole thing over. And within the mulling God is paying close attention and knows the concerns, questions and even doubts of the just Joseph and answers Joseph's questions through this angelic dream.
"Don't be afraid". How many times have you read that in the Bible and came away from reading it never fearing or worrying about anything ever again? Puhlease. I am sick of the fake church folk who pretend like nothing ever bothers them or ever causes them any doubt. Disciples who walked with Jesus during His ministry doubted Him. John the Baptist about to have his head served on a silver platter doubted Him. Even our old friend Abraham distrusted God when telling people that his wife was his sister. Do you ever doubt? GOOD! You're in good company. And you're not Jesus either. So quit thinking you should be.
Anyway. In re-reading this chapter I was personally struck by God being the Grand Conductor orchestrating life and lives to bring about not only Jesus who will save people from their sins but also bringing all these undeserving, needing salvation like crazy sinners into the family. It made me reflect on my own crazy journey of how I ended up in the family I now call family. These are people who 10 years ago I never even knew existed. Yes Sue and I are almost in our tenth year together. But 10 years ago I didn't know her or her family who (for the most part) have welcomed me with open arms, holidays with tons of people and tons of food, drama, issues, boundary issues and Saturday night card games that have been some of the most fun I've ever had in my life (you don't know fun until you've played cards with Bob Peters or Dunkey Rumple). I was merged with many other families through the years. Almost became a part of two other ones but for some reason God saw fit to fit me into this particular one. Many, many, many times I wondered why. Actually I still do wonder why but while reading this first chapter it dawned on me. As much turmoil, drama and pain as Sue and I have been through in these ten years, there is something going on that I appreciate and am grateful for beyond words. I have (as I said before) for the most part have been accepted, adopted so to speak into this big, crazy, dysfunctional but ultimately loving as all get out family. I have a wife who puts up with me and loves me. And I am in love with her too. And we have a grand daughter who grabs more and more of my heart daily. I have this large extended family who I love too. How did all of this happen? I feel like some undeserving person in this "other" genealogy. Included into people's lives that I had no merit or business being involved in. Kind of like how I ended up getting "saved". Adopted into His family. And I still wonder why.
He knows what He's doing even when I don't have a clue. Which is all the time.All the time He knows what He is doing and all the time I don't.
Whenever my attention wavers from where He is focusing my focus, I forget. And I always feel like an idiot for forgetting. But He's always cool with it. He knows what He's doing and I don't have a clue.
That's why He's God and I'm clueless.
