No Room for Random

"But after Joseph 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." Matthew 1:20

God did not choose Mary and Joseph at random. The fact that both Matthew and Luke take the time to identify Joseph as a "son of David" was enormously significant. If Jesus was going to be believed to be the Messiah to the Hebrew people, then he would have had to have been a descendant of King David.

"The LORD declares to you [David] that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." 2 Samuel 7:11b-13

Since Joseph was a legitimate, bloodline son of King David, Jesus would receive that same inheritance and be recognized as having the same chance to potentially be the One through whom God would ultimately save His people. Joseph was one of thousands of sons of David in Israel's history, and yet God chose him to become His Son's earthly adopted father. This choice speaks to Joseph's character and the trust God had in Joseph as the one who would be instrumental in raising Jesus. Joseph was a unique and deliberate choice for God.

I don't believe God does random acts. I believe He acts at specific times in specific ways for specific reasons to reveal Himself and His unique plans to each one of us. I don't always understand what He reveals to me, but I trust that He will help me to understand those things over time.

Just as God called Joseph uniquely and deliberately, He is calling you and I as well. Let's open our eyes and ears this Christmas to God. He is revealing His purposes and His will to us, even in this very moment. Will you stop and listen so that you can hear Him and respond as Joseph did?

Waiting and listening to God with you,

Todd