The generations of our Biblical ancestors are listed beginning in the book of Matthew up to the birth of Christ. The ancestral line continues up to our day as we can trace our heritage back to our Lord and Savior – because of the cross. Joseph at first was afraid to take Mary as his wife because she was pregnant – not with his child. “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” (Matthew 1:20).
Later on in verses 21 – 24, Joseph remembers the dream and did as the angel told him and took Mary as his wife. Joseph is one of the remarkable men in the Bible who quietly and reverently acts upon knowledge brought to Him from the Lord. We don’t see much written about Joseph in his years as earthly father to Jesus; however, we see the things he does in life. He is of Davidic lineage and becomes the husband of Mary; he is with Mary at Jesus’ birth; he obeys the Jewish law of circumcision; protects his family from Herod; hears God again and returns to Nazareth with his family; respected by Jesus as Jesus was subject to his parents.
Joseph is honorable in all of his dealings and appears to be a very loving and supportive husband. How many men would go through the anguish of even considering marrying someone who is telling you they have not slept with someone, yet they are pregnant? Because he was prayerful towards God, an angel appeared to him in a dream and answered his most perplexing questions.
I know people in Joseph’s day were watching him intently to see what he would do and many would have been unkind to both Joseph and Mary. What a witness he was to those who did not understand that first and foremost he would honor God above men. That’s a true witness to our faith in a God we do not see but a God we serve.
