Mary accepted her assignment to carry the Son of God. She knew that this assignment may present to her challenges including losing her betrothed husband. After all, as at this time, Joseph had no idea of the conversation between Mary and the angel. There was no scripture attesting to the fact that Mary told Joseph about her encounter prior to his own encounter. Joseph might have been excited about the prospect of their wedding ceremony. He would have envisaged the pomp and the party. Their union was yet to be consummated so he might have been excited about their wedding night. Then suddenly, there was a stir in the neighbourhood. Joseph's family and friends needed answers to their questions. Why has Joseph brought shame to them? Why did he impregnate Mary before their wedding? Joseph might have been surprised but as a just man, he kept calm.
Joseph was no ordinary man, he was religious. Matthew 1:19 states that "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." God's assignment will always be done if the systems on earth align with God's purpose. Mary was not the only one destined to cater for the Son of God. Joseph, a faithful man was also chosen to be the earthly father for God's Son. Joseph, a faithful adherent of the law of God, understood the ways of God. Joseph had made up his mind to divorce Mary quietly. However, heaven intervened. Matthew 1:20-21 states that, "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. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. (Matthew 1:24)
Mary didn't have to convince Joseph, God did that. Joseph wasn't slow to act and he wasn't disobedient to the angel's words. According to Matthew 1:24-25, "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." Joseph was patient enough to wait until the birth of God's Son before consummation of their marriage. Indeed, Mary needed Joseph for this task. No wonger of all the young couples in the lineage of David, Mary and Joseph were chosen.
Matthew's gospel considers this event as the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Thus, all this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. Mary and Joseph might not have had their dream wedding but they fulfilled God's purpose for salvation. Mary's husband was just the right support system for her. Joseph was not harsh, he was gentle and ready to marry Mary as soon as the angel revealed to him the purpose of Mary's pregnancy. Imagine Joseph as the first man to hold God's son; imagine Joseph as the first man to teach God's Son the laws of God; imagine Joseph as the father to hear all the testimonies about his Son even as a newborn baby; imagine Joseph as the one with the mandate to escape to Egypt with God's Son to prevent the wickedness of Herod. Couldn't God have done all these without Joseph? No, God needed Joseph to fulfill His purpose on earth. God works through men!
As Mary said "Yes" to Joseph (whether the marriage was arranged or not), she actually said "Yes" to her destiny partner. The man heaven has ordained to be the perfect earthly father to God's own Son.
Young unmarried woman, your husband is your destiny helper. If he has not proven himself a worthy partner while in courtship, please don't carry him to the altar. Heaven and earth await your manifestation. Your spouse can either lead you to fulfill God's call or lead you to abandon God's call. It is not archaic to pray for a spouse! Not all that glitters is gold!
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