Joseph's Trusting

A knock is heard at the door. Joseph opens it revealing a man giving him an accusatory look.

“Well, don’t hide your feelings, Benjamin. Want to come in?”

Benjamin barges in, brushing past Joseph, and then turns. “What were you thinking?”

“You mean about whether to let you in or just shut the door in your face?”

“Now is not the time to be funny, Joseph. We have been friends for what, basically, our entire lives, right? So, as a close and best friend, I must tell you that you are committing suicide.”

“Suicide? Wow. Well, that’s a little extreme.”

“No. No, it isn’t. You’re going to have the whole town reject you. This is a small town, Joseph. You won’t get any business here. You must at least divorce her. I know you won’t go through with your right to have her stoned to death. But you’ve got to consider your reputation. Right now, the gossip is that she was forced by a Roman soldier on her way to see her cousin Elizabeth. But if you go through with this, they’ll accuse you of the impropriety.”

“Not only can I not have her stoned, I can’t let her be destitute with a child. No one else is going to marry her now. How would she ever survive without any support from a husband?”

“Is that really your concern? Joseph, you must think about your own livelihood. By taking her into your home, you will be admitting that the child is yours—yours before your marriage is legally finalized.” Benjamin shakes his head. “The risk is just too great.”

Joseph places his hands on Benjamin’s shoulders and pushes him down to sit. “Let me tell you what Yahweh told me.”

As Benjamin sits his eyes go wide and his tone sarcastic. “What? Yahweh himself talked to you?”

“Well, it was through one of his angels. I had confronted Mary and told her how disappointed I was in her and that I was so deeply hurt that I even considered exercising my right to cause her demise. But once I looked into her eyes, I knew I couldn’t do that. Her beautiful eyes were one of the first things that attracted me to her. Then, the more I learned about her character, the more I desired to marry her. So, I told her I would divorce her privately. I moped home and just fell into bed, too sorry for myself to do anything else. When I slept, an angel appeared to me.”

“But that was only a dream, Joseph. Just your subconscious trying to make sense of what you had just went through.”

“No, Benjamin, no. This was beyond any dream I have ever experienced before. There was something so real, so vivid about it that went beyond what any dream is capable of. No, this was something else entirely. Words of wisdom directed from Yahweh himself to me.”

“Delusions of grandeur, you mean.”

Joseph chuckled. “Yes, I guess it may sound that way. Look, I don’t know why Yahweh chose me—chose Mary. But Yahweh’s angel said for me not to be afraid to take Mary home as my wife because the baby inside of her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and I am to name him Yashua because he will save his people from their sins.”

“Wait, you’re saying that Mary is going to birth the Messiah?” He waved his hands. “That goes well beyond any delusions of grandeur.”

“Think about it, Benjamin. What did the prophet Isaiah say about his birth. He would be born of a virgin.”

“Well, yes, but . . . here? Here in Nazareth? Why would someone who is to become king be born in Nazareth? What makes the two of you so special?”

“Nothing, Benjamin. Absolutely nothing. I don’t understand it. All I know is what I was told. I either believe it to be true or ignore the most wonderful thing Yahweh has done.”

Benjamin stood and started to pace. “Well, this certainly changes things, but only if everyone believes you.” He shakes his head. “I don’t see many people doing that. They’ll say you’re just using it as an excuse to hide your sin.”

Joseph chuckles. Benjamin gives him a stare.

“Sorry. That just struck me as funny. You’re saying I’m using Yashua to hide my sin when he’s the one who will take away my sin.”

“Oh, don’t start getting philosophical with me, Joseph. You know what I mean. Even if you’re doing the right thing, your reputation will be ruined. Maybe one day everyone here will realize you were right, but that won’t be for many years. You’ll be shunned until then.”

“Well, it’s all in Yahweh’s hands now. I’ve yielded to his will. Mary will come into my home next week for her protection and for everyone to get used to us being together.”

Benjamin put his hand on Joseph’s shoulder. “Well, I’ll still be your friend, but don’t count on many others.”

“It’s interesting that everyone believes in a coming Messiah, and everyone believes Isaiah’s prophesy that he will be born of a virgin, but no one believes it when it finally happens.”

“That’s because no one believes it can happen in Nazareth.”

“And why is that, Benjamin? Does one truly believe in a prophecy if one can’t believe it will occur in their lifetime, in their village, in them themselves?”

“I guess Yahweh does work in mysterious ways. And I’ve seen nothing more mysterious than this. That’s for sure.”

Suddenly, a commotion is heard outside. Both Joseph and Benjamin follow the noise and see a Roman officer with a contingent of other soldiers rallying people together.

“Everyone,” the officer announced, “gather around. It has been decreed by Roman Emperor Agustus that everyone will give a census of their birthright. Everyone must be counted in the city of their ancestors to know from which clan you are of.”

“What if we’re from a different district than here?” Someone in the crowd shouted.

“Then I suggest you get you affairs in order quickly and comply. There will be no exceptions to the emperor’s decree.”

With that, one of his men tacked a pamphlet, written in Greek, Latin, Aramaic, and Hebrew to one of the buildings, and they all rode out of town. This left everyone in quite a panic about what to do and how they were going to do it. Many stood around while someone read the words of the pamphlet out loud. There were many groans and a few choice words by a few.

Benjamin looked at Joseph with raised eyebrows. “See, your decision has just increased your hardship.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I know you’re a descendant of King David because you have teased me forever saying I’m just a peasant.”

Joseph pushed Benjamin’s shoulder giving a laugh. “Indeed, you are, my friend.”

“Yes, but us peasants can register here. You now have a pregnant wife to take to Bethlehem. That’s a little over 90 miles travel over rocky and mountainous terrain.”

“Hmm. That’s true. At least I have a cousin there with whom I can stay.”

“Maybe.”

“What do you mean, ‘maybe’?”

“Well, it will be fine if Mary doesn’t deliver while there. Think about all the impurity laws that Mary will have to abide by if she delivers. Can your cousin accommodate those?”

“I think so.”

“Well, maybe not. Think about the number of people who will descend upon Bethlehem, which is not much larger than Nazareth. Delivering a child could prove difficult in such crowded conditions.”

“I had not thought of that, Benjamin. I need to go talk to Mary’s family. We have a lot of preparation to take care of, and many prayers to pray.”

“And I will also pray for you, my friend. But the most you will get from others is just dirty looks, I’m afraid.”

“Dirty looks from others are not my concern, as long as I get a smile from Yahweh for my actions in following his will for me and for Mary, and for our soon to be son, Yashua.”

And what about you, my friends? Do you also trust God for the outcome of your life? Has he become more important than anything else in your life? Only then can the outcome you truly desire be guaranteed as only he controls our future and our destiny.