Joseph’s Obedience: Who Holds Your Pen? Matthew 1:18-25

May 13, 2014

INTRODUCTION

All of us carry, in our minds, a plan for our life, a “script” of how things ought to go. We imagine how our work, family, and future will unfold. We may never write it down, but in our mind we quietly draft the story we want. Then, often without warning, God writes something into the script we would never have chosen:

A diagnosis we didn’t expect.

A relationship that breaks instead of blossoms.

An opportunity that disappears.

A burden that feels too heavy.

In those moments, the deeper question is not, “Why is this happening?” but, “Who holds my pen? Who is really writing my story?”

Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁸This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.¹⁹Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Who Holds Your Pen?: A sermon based on Joseph’s Obedience

The place we begin with Joseph, is with, first, a Disturbing Discovery.

1. Disturbing Discovery

Joseph is anticipating his marriage with his soon-to-be wife Mary, and life is radically interrupted with the announcement of Mary’s pregnancy.

Matthew 1:18-19

We have the advantage of “she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.” But Joseph doesn’t know this. He knows that she is with child, but how does he know the circumstances behind this? Joseph has, at this moment, this Disturbing Discovery.

Application: How many of you have ever had your life plans unfold just the way you planned? You thought, “I’m going to do this and then this and then this,” and your life plan just failed? Joseph almost certainly had his future mapped out, at least the next year I will marry Mary. He could see the path ahead – and then, in a moment, everything is interrupted by this disturbing discovery: Mary is pregnant, there is an interruption to his plan.

Proverbs 16:9

In their hearts humans plan their course,

but the LORD establishes their steps.

The word plan here means we must plan, think, or calculate but with open hands and say, “Okay Lord, these are my plans, this is what I think is going to be the future, but Lord, I’m leaving that future plan with an open hand before You.”

Isn’t it interesting how oftentimes we have this plan and we hold on pretty tightly and we say, “Lord, this is my plan, so I’m praying that You’d bless my plan so that I can see it unfold just how I have it right here.” And God says, “Why don’t you open that, the palm of your hand, and leave those plans in My hands?” Joseph plans had been now radically interrupted. This is his Disturbing Discovery.

In typical Jewish customs, betrothal is viewed in a way that we don’t really have a modern comparison. Once they actually entered into betrothal, to break that you were not just asking for a ring back, you had to legally divorce.

Did you notice that the Bible’s going to say that he’s going to “divorce her quietly?” Do you remember that God hates divorce? Joseph is preparing to end the betrothal. In his mind, divorce is the only righteous option left.

Can you imagine the shock and hurt? Mary is visibly pregnant. He knows, “The child is not my child.” His whole understanding of Mary and of his future collapses in this single, disturbing discovery.

You may have found that God has allowed some alteration to your well-thought-out plan. You had all the pieces of the puzzle arranged and you’re about to put in the last few pieces, and then God not only mixes up the pieces, He just actually changes the whole puzzle.

James H. McConkey wrote:

“Shall the architect draw the plans for his stately palace? Shall the artist sketch the outlines of his masterpiece? Shall the shipbuilder lay down the lines for his colossal ship? And yet, shall God have no plans for the soul which He brings into being and puts in Christ Jesus?” Surely, He has.

If architects, artists, and shipbuilders plan carefully, how much more can we trust that the God of heaven has a wise plan for His people?

God has a plan for you. Sometimes, to enact His plan, He actually has to break ours, and Joseph, at this moment, is living through this Disturbing Discovery.

Not only does Joseph have what we’ll call a Disturbing Discovery, he also has a Deep Dilemma.

2. Deep Dilemma

Matthew 1:20

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Well, Joseph had two bitter pills that he’s about to swallow.

Illustration: Have you ever had some medication to take and as soon as that medicine touched the tip of your tongue, you sensed the bitterness of the pill? Yet the bitter pill had something good to do to you. Listen, these pills for Joseph to swallow, it’s going to be harsh, but there is some good intention that’s supposed to be coming as a result of.

First bitter pill: Mary is pregnant.

The second bitter: God tells him, “Take her as your wife.”

While we know that Mary was a virtuous woman, but for anybody around Mary who knew that she was with child would not have called Mary virtuous.

a. Mary is pregnant. People may point out to Joseph and say, “Joseph, this is not right.” And if Joseph said, “Listen, the child’s not mine,” then it would question Mary’s integrity.

b. Joseph has to take Mary as his wife. Even if Joseph takes Mary to be his wife, there’s going to be a stigma; there will be accusations; there will be gossip; there will be whispers; there will be raised eyebrows that may never be removed.

c. Joseph’s lineage. In this passage, Joseph is reminded of his lineage: “Joseph, son of David.” Joseph has a lineage to protect, a name to uphold. He’s going to bring shame not only upon himself, but now Joseph’s going to bring shame upon his parents, his siblings, his extended family, his lineage. He’s in the line of David.

What would Joseph do?

I have seen that nowadays some in the world easily call off engagements for simple reasons. It brings a lot of pain and trauma one has to live with.

But Joseph is “steady as she goes.” The phrase steady as she goes is a nautical term. It’s reported that this was the cry given to the helmsman (a person who steers the ship or boat), that he was to keep on the current course. “Don’t vary, don’t waver. Steady as she goes.” It’s the cry given to Joseph, the steady man. And while he knew what this would mean to his reputation, he knew what this would mean to his altered future, Joseph is “steady as she goes.”

Application: I wonder if at times we’re hesitant to swallow the bitter pills that God sometimes has for our own good. He says things that we call into question. We say, “Lord, what’s that going to do to my own reputation? If I do what You’re telling me to do, what are people going to think of me?” God says, “I want you to show love, My love to that person. Are you offended, hurt, if the Lord speaks to your conscience, just accept that person and show love.”

In fact, when Jesus was out and about in his ministry, there were many eyebrows raised because Jesus was known as the “friend of sinners.” One of the healthy things for us as a church is to reach out to people and show love within and outside the community.

Sometimes God says, “Take that position.” We say, “Lord, that’s not my plan because I have things all sketched out, it’s not the course that I’ve charted.” Sometimes God says, “Get involved in people’s lives in your own community, forgive others who have hurt you.” “Well, that’s hard because it’s uncomfortable.” Sometimes there are some bitter pills for us to swallow we, like Joseph, face a Deep Dilemma.

Let’s take it a little bit further than just a Disturbing Discovery and a Deep Dilemma. Beginning in verse 20, we start to see a Divine Declaration.

3. Divine Declaration

Matthew 1:21-25

²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²²All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Notice that God’s working in ways to bring His purposes to completion. This was a fulfilment.

Now, the book of Matthew is interesting. Each one of the gospels, all four, they are singing the same song, but they’re taking a different part, what we oftentimes refer to the “harmony of the gospels.” They come together and they build this beautiful harmony.

The part that the book of Matthew is singing: “Jesus is King,” and it’s being targeted toward the Jews. He’s saying over and over and over again, “You have read the prophets. Jesus is the fulfilment of their prophecy.” And he keeps pointing people over and over again to King Jesus.

I mean, let me share just a few from the book of Matthew:

Matthew 2:15

where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”

Matthew 2:23

and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Matthew 4:14

to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

There are at least 11 throughout the gospel of Matthew where it says, “so was fulfilled.” And do you know what Joseph now gets to be a part of God’s plan. Joseph gets to experience this Divine Declaration and the fulfilment of the promises of God.

The point is that Jesus is birthed through a supernatural birth by the Holy Spirit upon Mary who is in the line of David, and Joseph gets the privilege to be his foster father who is also in the line of David.

The prophecy that’s referred to in Matthew 1:22 (The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son), made to a king in the OT whose name is Ahaz, and Ahaz was a godless king.

He was in a difficult situation. He has two nations who are allies now attacking him. Ahaz is going to have to fight this battle on two fronts: Aram or Syria on one side, Israel (Ephraim), the northern kingdom. Ahaz goes and he actually raids his own temple. He takes the gold and silver out of the temple, and he sends it to the king of Assyria hoping for some help from the Assyrians instead of seeking help from God. Ahaz was not a guy who trusted the Lord.

Ahaz is worried about that: “I might be destroyed, and the line might be destroyed.” And Isaiah the prophet goes and he speaks to Ahaz and he says, “God is going to protect the line of David. God’s going to take care of this.” Isaiah then asks Ahaz to ask for a sign,” and Ahaz declines. He says, “I will seek no sign,” and Isaiah says, “You’re going to get one anyhow.”

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

This is the Divine Declaration, the blessed promise, that God is about to fulfil. You and I should be continually reminded that God keeps His promises. God will not, God cannot, fail to keep His Word.

So we see

A Disturbing Discovery—Mary’s pregnancy.
A Deep Dilemma—Joseph’s inner struggle.
We see a Divine Declaration—the angel’s word and promise.

4. Determined Obedience

Matthew 1:24-25

In all the turmoil and the swirling circumstances about him, Joseph’s steady obedience marches on. In this narrative Joseph is righteous. He is actively listening to God. Finally, simply submits himself to the plan that God is unfolding.

Joseph has an important part to play, and he does so with a steady obedience that is admirable. We see Joseph’s obedience in taking Mary as his wife and naming Jesus.

Can you imagine how different Joseph’s life would have been if he had kept hold of the pen and insisted on his own script? Instead, he hands the pen to God – and his small, costly obedience is written into the story of salvation.

CONCLUSION

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that appears to be right,

but in the end it leads to death.

To primarily speak about the way, Jesus is the only way to salvation. Jesus comes to save us from our sin. Man’s own way results in something that is eternally tragic, and that is forever separation from God that Christ came to redeem us, rescue, save us from. I know that’s the most important part about the wrong of our own way.

But let’s say you have that part right—you know Christ personally, you’ve rejected your own way, you’ve come to Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

But what about all the other ways of your life? “There is a way that appears right.” “Lord, this was my plan. This was to be my future. I had my own retirement plan. This was supposed to be my career. This was supposed to be my home. I wanted my family to be like. This was supposed to be my marriage. This was supposed to be my work.” Friends, there’s One who is writing the story, and He writes it better than you or I could ever write.

God sees what we do not see. He knows what we cannot. God provides what we have not in ways we deserve not. His ways are higher than ours.

Isaiah 55:9

As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

We can say boldly today, “Lord, I’m going to trust Your work, Your will, Your time, and Your way. Your ways are higher than mine.”

When this is our prayer, then our life, like Joseph’s, can be “steady as she goes,” keeping our hands firm at the helm of the ship of life, listening to the Captain of our soul.

Is your life marked right now by a Disturbing Discovery?

Are you facing a Deep Dilemma?

There is a God with Divine Declarations and faithful promises waiting for you, and a pathway of Determined Obedience is far better than one you could choose yourself. By God’s grace, may we follow the example of Joseph, the righteous man.

LIFE APPLICATION

1. Surrender Our Life to God’s Sovereign Plan

Where in my life right now am I holding tightly to “my script,” and what would it practically look like to place that area into God’s hands and say, “Your will be done, not mine”?

2. Choose Obedience over Reputation.

Is there any area where I am hesitating to obey Christ because I am afraid of what people will think of me—family, colleagues, friends, or even other Christians? See Small Obedience in the Light of God’s Big Story.

3. Quiet Faithfulness in the Shadows

Am I content to be faithful in the unseen places God has put me, or do I resent my lack of visibility and recognition in ministry, work, or family?

4. Trust God’s Word When Circumstances Make No Sense

In which present situation do my feelings and circumstances seem louder than God’s promises, and which specific Scripture do I need to cling to and pray over that situation?

Father, that is today our prayer. We don’t even have a recorded question of Joseph; just with steady obedience he submitted himself to Your plan. Father, I know that we do make plans and oftentimes they are broken. They are accompanied with some bitter pills, but may we know of Your Divine Declaration and Your blessed promises. May we know and have confidence that You have a better pathway of Determined Obedience than one we would choose for ourselves. And may we, with steady obedience, simply submit ourselves to You. May our hands be open regarding the plans that are before us. Help us now to do what we have seen in Your Word has been done.

CITY HARVEST

AG CHURCH

Joseph’s Obedience: Who Holds Your Pen? Matthew 1:18-25