The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

Though Mary had willingly surrendered to God’s plan to make her the favored mother of the Messiah, she had so many questions – and none more urgent than what would happen to her now? How would she take care of this baby if all turned their backs on her? Even her own mother and father could not be assumed to believe a story such as she would tell them. And Joseph, her betrothed!?! She had gone to her Aunt Elizabeth’s home to help during her pregnancy, which cannot have been easy, given her advanced age. But then…Mary would have to face them all, since she was far enough along that her pregnancy was obvious. How shocking to her loved ones, who were doubtless eager to have her back home…Mary…but a different Mary!

Her worst fears were realized when Joseph did not believe her. In her prayers, she poured out her heart to God. The ostracization and sideways looks, if not forward remarks, were difficult enough to bear. But the shame of not being believed by the man who had been building a house for them to share together, melding one life from two, was excruciating. How could she defend herself?

The truth had been no defense at all, since it was not accepted.

But God did not leave her to bear it all alone. He had a plan for the mother of His Son; He also had a plan for Joseph.

But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel,which is translated “God is with us.” When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25 CSB

When Joseph heard this word from the angel, he did not hesitate, but took Mary home. From that moment, through all of the hardships they faced together, he is shown to be faithful. From trying to find her shelter when they arrived in Bethlehem for the census, to getting them up before daylight and fleeing to Egypt when he was warned that Herod wanted to kill the babe, to heading back to Nazareth, when he was shown in a dream it was safe. Jesus was a carpenter before beginning His ministry, and would have learned the trade from faithful Joseph.

God always knows what He is doing.