What do you do when following God means accepting a path very different from the one you expected?
Key Verse
“And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife.” — Matthew 1:24 (NASB)
Background Context
Matthew opened his Gospel by identifying Yeshua as “the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” In Matthew 1:1–17, we saw YHWH faithfully carry His promises through generations of imperfect people until the genealogy finally reached Joseph, “the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born.”
That wording was deliberate. Matthew did not say Joseph fathered Yeshua as he had described the preceding generations.
Now in Matthew 1:18–25, Matthew explains why. Before Joseph and Mary came together, Mary was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Joseph initially intended to end their betrothal quietly, but YHWH revealed to him what was actually happening and gave him clear instructions about what he should do.
Joseph then had a choice: continue according to what had seemed reasonable based on the information available to him, or change his plans in response to what God had revealed.
(Continued and expanded after scripture.)
Conception and Birth of Jesus
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23“BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD AND SHALL BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which translated means, “GOD WITH US.” 24And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Reflection on Matthew 1:18–25:
Joseph’s initial decision makes sense from his perspective. Mary was pregnant, Joseph knew the child was not his, and he had no apparent reason to conclude that anything miraculous had happened. Matthew even describes Joseph as a righteous man who did not want to disgrace Mary publicly. He intended to separate from her quietly.
Then YHWH gave Joseph information he could never have discovered on his own.
An angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
God did not condemn Joseph for acting upon the information he previously had. Instead, He revealed truth Joseph did not know. What matters is what Joseph did once God’s direction became clear.
He obeyed.
Joseph could have focused on the potential consequences. What would people think about the timing of Mary’s pregnancy? Would anyone believe their explanation? What would this do to his reputation? This was certainly not the marriage or beginning to family life that Joseph had anticipated.
Yet verse 24 simply tells us that Joseph “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.”
There are times when following YHWH takes us in a direction we never would have chosen for ourselves. Those moments can be particularly difficult because obedience may require us to surrender not only a decision, but also the future we had already pictured in our minds. Our plans may have seemed reasonable and responsible, yet God may lead us somewhere we did not anticipate.
As we repeatedly choose to trust YHWH over our own plans, however, submission can become more natural. Looking back, we may even recognize God’s hand most clearly in those places where the path was obviously not one we would have designed for ourselves. What initially felt like an unwelcome disruption may eventually become one of the clearest places where we can see that God was directing our steps.
Joseph certainly experienced that. What must initially have appeared to be a devastating complication became an invitation to participate in something far greater than anything he could have planned for himself. Joseph and Mary would be entrusted with raising Messiah.
There is an important caution for us, however. An unexpected or unusual path is not automatically evidence that it comes from God. We should not assume that every surprising idea, strong feeling, or change in circumstances is the leading of the Spirit simply because it differs from our plans. Joseph received unmistakable revelation from God. We have God’s revealed Word by which our choices and perceived direction must be tested.
But when YHWH has clearly spoken, Joseph provides a strong example of what faithfulness looks like. Obedience should not depend upon whether God’s instruction fits comfortably within our plans.
Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Joseph had to trust God’s understanding over what his circumstances appeared to tell him.
Yet Joseph’s obedience is not the greatest thing happening in this passage.
The angel tells him to name the child Yeshua—Jesus—”for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew then connects His birth with Isaiah’s prophecy: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they shall name Him Immanuel,” which Matthew explains means, “God with us.”
These two descriptions tell us why His birth matters.
He came to save His people from their sins, and He is Immanuel—God with us.
That is especially meaningful after what we recently studied in Exodus. At the tabernacle, YHWH declared His desire to dwell among His people. Yet the veil also reminded Israel that sin created separation and that sinful humanity could not casually enter the presence of a holy God.
Matthew now introduces Yeshua as “God with us” and tells us that His mission involves dealing directly with the problem of sin.
Joseph did not yet know everything that obedience would require of him. He simply knew what God had told him to do next. Sometimes we want God to explain the entire path before we are willing to take the next step. Joseph reminds us that faithful obedience does not require knowing everything that will happen afterward.
We do not know what YHWH may be doing on the other side of an obedience that presently feels disruptive. When He has clearly spoken, our responsibility is to trust Him enough to follow.
Application
- When YHWH’s direction conflicts with the future you had planned, be willing to surrender your plans rather than demanding that God fit within them.
- Test perceived spiritual direction against God’s Word rather than assuming that something unusual or unexpected must necessarily come from Him.
- When God has clearly spoken, obey what He has revealed without requiring Him to explain every future consequence first.
- Look back at times when YHWH redirected your plans and consider whether His hand became clearer because the path was one you would not have chosen yourself.
- Remember that Yeshua came not merely to improve our circumstances, but to save His people from sin and bring us into restored relationship with God.
Closing Prayer
Father, help me trust You when Your plans differ from what I expected. When following You requires me to surrender a future I had already pictured for myself, give me humility and courage to submit to Your direction. Give me discernment so that I do not confuse my own desires with the leading of Your Spirit, and help me test what I believe against the truth You have revealed in Your Word. When You have clearly spoken, teach me to obey without requiring You to explain everything that comes next. Thank You for Joseph and Mary’s example of trusting You through an extraordinary change in their plans, and thank You most of all for sending Yeshua to save His people from their sins. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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