All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
--Parallel verses:
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.
Childbirth in itself is a miraculous event. From the seed of a man and the egg of a woman, comes new life. The Creator designed this.
And now, on top of this miraculous event is another miracle, a woman, who has not been impregnated by another human man, gives birth to God’s son. God intervened in the normal process of how our race is born and populated, and placed his son, who was with him at creation, inside the womb of Mary, through the Holy Spirit. In one of the most miraculous things to ever be heard of, Mary, a virgin, became pregnant.
I find it important that Joseph was also thoughtful and obedient to the angel’s instructions from God. In order to not confuse the issue, he did not consummate his marriage with Mary until after Jesus was born. He was obedient not only to the command, but also to the intent of the command.
In today’s world of compromise, many who read the Bible go the opposite direction from Joseph. They do not, in simple obedience, seek to follow the intent of the command. They listen to the command, and try to tweak it to fit into a comfortable lifestyle, into their sinful ways. God does not honor this. Instead, he despises it.
Listen to Jesus’ warning to the church at Laodicea: “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” (Revelation 3:15-18)
Joseph was a faithful man! He was a part of the most amazing time in history. And he directly experienced Immanuel - “God is with us!”. Today, the same Immanuel, our Savior Jesus Christ, LIVES! He LIVES and REIGNS above all in heaven. And if you are not 100% committed to being obedient to him as the Lord of your life, then you can throw all of the worldly pursuits away today and commit to him. He is waiting. And his “gold refined by fire,” or his righteousness and faithfulness tested in the trials of life, is an eternally valued treasure!
The last part of the words to the church at Laodicea, still apply to us today, “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:19-22)
Here’s to the Faithful and Righteous Victors!
Lord, draw your people to all-out commitment and obedience to you, to your will and your ways. May we not seek to do the least amount possible to be in “compliance”, but to do the most we can to follow your commands and the intent behind them. And this intent is to love God and to love others! (Matthew 22:37-40) We love and know how to love by following you and obeying your commands.
