Imagine your fiancé coming to you and announcing she was pregnant and then added "by the Holy Spirit". (Matthew 1:18-19) Would you have even heard the best part (God has decided to use your fiancé to become human!) or would your mind begin racing to every man you thought may have had the potential to have done this? Joseph, by all accounts, loved God and loved Mary. Even the man whose walk with God was sound would have trouble with what Mary announced…initially.
His character didn't allow him to fly off and go into a jealous lovers rage, yet I can't help wonder about his mind ( He did consider these things afterall - Matthew 1:20) the irrationality of this situation, how could God impregnate my fiancé?, that guy Mary was talking to last week at the market, what about the guy at the Temple, etc. He has read the wreckage of David's affair, about Amnom and Tamar, Samson and Delilah and Proverbs. He knows his own thoughts and his own desire for Mary.
Yet, here is Mary and her story about being pregnant. I have read some accounts implying Joseph (and people before the enlightenment regarding pregnancy) didn't really have a problem because back in those days, people didn't really know how babies were made. Rubes just went ahead and consummated marriages and before you know it, the maiden's belly was big and round and oh, here comes a small, living creature out of the birth canal! Even Mary, who no doubt had the talk and probably giggled once or twice during it, knew exactly what this meant (Luke 1:34).
No, men and women knew about sex, desire, biology and gestation. Joseph was no rube and he knew full well the ramifications of this event. He knew the law, too (Dueteronomy 24:1 & Dueteronomy 22:21) and what was required of him. He and Mary were both from the line of David (from the tribe of Judah) so we could assume both families have an intimate knowledge of God.
In Joseph's case, it didn't take long for him to get on board. (Matthew 1:24-25). His character was rock solid and his love for God stronger than any shame or embarrassment he may encounter from family and friends. Can you imagine the conversation with them?
Friend- "And you believed her!?"
Joseph- "Well, yes, I mean, she has walked with God for awhile and an angel told me..."
Friend- "Ha! Plenty of God-fearing couples have ended up pregnant before marriage and sometimes I've heard it wasn't even with the person they were engaged to! Remember Bezek and Vizat?"
Joseph- "All I know is I've never even kissed her and I know she hasn't kissed another. I'm with her almost every day. I don't know how she could find the time. I trust her!"
Friend-"Famous last words from many a man. You weren't the first and you won't be the last"
Joseph, did you know your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
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