The splendor and wealth of their foreign visitors had made his head spin.  Lying there in the dark after their departure, Joseph calmed his thoughts by reciting a prayerful Psalm.  But after all that excitement, it was hard to fall asleep.  With a prayer of thanks on his lips, he finally drifted into sleep.  But it wasn’t to be a peaceful sleep.  No, there was more excitement to come that night and not the happy excitement of hosting gift-bearing worshippers.  With a jerk, he came wide awake in the middle of the night.  It was his dream that made him wake in a cold sweat of dread.  The angel in his dream had given him urgent orders that were ringing in his ears, “Get up. Take the Child and his mother and escape to Egypt.  Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”  Immediately he woke up his wife, quickly packed up the gifts they had just received, and started out on a nighttime journey over roads he had never traveled before.

He suddenly found himself responsible to protect his precious wife and her Babe on a forced march, but also he must protect the very valuable gifts that they would need for their uncertain future in another country.  Traveling at night was risky, especially on unfamiliar roads.  He was tired, but the fear of Herod pushed him beyond his weariness.  He must keep his head start.  Each mile brought a tiny bit of safety from the murderous king and his soldiers.  But they may be sitting ducks for robbers.  How could he defend his little family?  How did his life take yet another unexpected turn so suddenly?  He was grateful for the Magis, but they sure stirred up the hornets’ nest in Jerusalem!  He was just finally feeling settled in Bethlehem, now another unwanted move… and to a foreign country, no less.  He didn’t sign up to lead a life of intrigue evading an army and seeking asylum in a place where he didn’t speak their language.  But he intentionally put these thoughts out of his head and instead repeated Scriptures that put courage into his soul.  He would be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  He would be what Mary and her Son needed him to be.

“By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.”  Psalm 17:7

Though it seems he was a quiet man, his obedience and selfless love made it possible for ancient prophecies to be fulfilled.  Every believer since the  first Advent owes Joseph a debt of gratitude.  Mary and her Son needed Joseph, a man of faith, to care for them, provide for them, protect them, and model servant leadership.  He didn’t cling to his own plans but was flexible enough to pivot at a moment’s notice (or an angel’s instructions) in obedience to the God he trusted implicitly.

God revealed to him as the head of his household, each next step.  Mary had an angel visit, but Joseph had four angel visits. God sent an angel to direct him regarding Mary and the Child.  In the Biblical line of leadership, the husband is the servant leader.  Joseph is a shining example.  God told him what to do.  He did it without questioning God or being overbearing to his wife.  He was willing to give up everything he had worked for for the sake of his wife and a Baby that wasn’t his.  He set aside his own plans, his own dreams in order to serve his wife and her Baby.  From the moment he obeyed the angel and married Mary, he started sacrificing what he held dear.  He never would have married a lose, unfaithful woman.  Yet he had to accept a pregnant bride simply on the word of an extraterrestrial being.  He never would have left his native country.  Yet he had to flee like a refugee to a foreign country where no one knew Who he harbored.  He never would have called attention to himself.  Yet he found himself receiving attention from angels, loudmouthed shepherds and curious townsfolk, prophets, a murderous king, adoring foreign aristocrats, and finally, derisive neighbors who misunderstood his Son.

[Jesus] returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”  Then they scoffed, “He’s just the carpenter’s son, and we know Mary, his mother, and his brothers—James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas.  All his sisters live right here among us. Where did he learn all these things?”  Matthew 13:54-56

Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”  Luke 4:22

There isn’t one quote from Joseph.  Not one word of anything he said is recorded.  In human evaluation he was unremarkable.  His vocation wasn’t prestigious.    Mary seems to have the spotlight in each account that involves Joseph.  She is the star with him in a supporting role.  Mary delivered the Messiah.  The elderly Simeon prophesied to Mary about the Baby’s future.  It was Mary who rebuked her 12-year-old son in the temple while his father seems to have been silent.  It was Mary who accompanied her Son during his ministry even to the foot of the cross.  He was referred to as the husband of Mary, or simply, the carpenter.  He was unassuming.  Yet Scripture gives him honor by describing him as a righteous man, who was so kind that he couldn’t bring himself to disgrace unwed, pregnant Mary even if she had betrayed him.  He thought before he acted.  He wasn’t an angry hothead even when he felt the sting of losing his beloved who appeared to have broken her vow to him. He, himself, was sexually pure and self-controlled both before and after marriage until he was permitted to consummate the marriage after Jesus’ birth.  He was addressed with honor by the angel who called him a son of David- inferring that he was in the royal line, and pleased God as David did.  Joseph’s response to God was always immediate obedience.  He was a worthy example to the boy Jesus.  He modeled servant leadership for his ‘son’ who would show the world how to serve others with selfless love.  No wonder God picked him to be his son’s adoptive father!

“Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.  As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.   And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 

“When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.  But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.”  Matthew 1:19-21, 24-25

Adoration of the Magi painting by an unknown artist.  Prints sold by Red Bus Prints in the UK- no shipping to the US.
Carpenter hands original photo by Federico Di Dio from Unsplash enhanced by me.