A Story You’ve Heard Your Entire Life

Part 1

This morning, I was reading in my Bible the story of Joseph in Matthew Chapter 2. Now, I realize that the story is the story of the birth of Jesus — that’s the main focus — but in church last weekend, a guest preacher planted the seed in my mind when he used the passage to speak about the importance of the father, Joseph, in the Christmas story.

This is a story I’ve heard my entire life. Mary is pregnant. Though they are not married yet and Joseph was not the father of the child, Joseph stays with her instead of divorcing her. The wise men. The star. Herod. Fleeing to Egypt.

Yet, this time, a few details popped out as bright as beacons on a dark night.

First of all, Matthew Chapter 1 should tip you off to pay attention to “father” because it’s all about the lineage of Jesus, and out of 14 generations listed between Abraham and David, and the 14 generations listed from David to the Babylonian exile, and the 14 generations listed from the exile to Jesus, there are only five women mentioned. 42 fathers. 5 mothers, and one of those is not referred to by name, but only as “whose mother had been Uriah’s wife.” Probably in terms of Old Testament times, some people may argue that five women out of forty-two generations getting recognized in holy scriptures is a high rate of visibility. I do not know the answer to that. I just know that that seems like low visibility. But culturally, historically, I cannot comment. I only see through the lens of my culture and lived experience. That seems low. But, if you’re paying attention to what’s there — the chapter before says “look at the father.”

Once you’re focused on the men in the story by virtue of the text that precedes Chapter 2 — though Mary is the star by virtue of being impregnated through the Holy Spirt (say what?) and by giving birth to the Savior who would fulfill the prophecies of centuries (I mean can you imagine!??! ) — you see Joseph is the lead in this play.

Here’s what pops out at me from his story:

He was going to divorce Mary, but had a dream with an angel telling him not to. So he didn’t. He “did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary as his wife.”

After he and Mary had entertained the wise men who had come to see Jesus, Joseph had a dream where an angel told him to flee with his family to Egypt and wait. He got up and fled with his family to Egypt.

After Herod died (read Matthew Chapter 2 for the full, crazy, blockbuster movie story details), Joseph has a dream in Egypt where an angel tells him the coast is clear and he should return to Israel. He got up and returned to Israel.

But Joseph isn’t the only man in this play. He’s the one who doesn’t have any lines. In this play, Joseph doesn’t speak. The angels have lines; they speak. Herod has lines; he speaks. Even the wise men traveling from afar have lines; they speak.

Joseph is all hearing and doing. Listening and obeying.

Take a moment and reflect: what have you heard, from somewhere deep within, sometimes referred to as a still small voice, that is encouraging you to some action? In this moment, what is it that you are being called to do?