Matthew 1:23-25 (WEB)
Now all this has happened that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying,“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son.They shall call his name Immanuel,”which is, being interpreted, “God with us.” Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself; and didn’t know her sexually until she had given birth to her firstborn son. He named him Jesus.
What do you do if you are following God’s will, yet everything seems to be going wrong? It can be easy to start second-guessing if we really heard God correctly. Did I make a wrong turn somewhere? Did I get off track and miss God’s path for me? Sometimes we may feel that everything depends upon us to make sure things work out right. But then they don’t work out as planned, and we feel like failures.
I wonder if Mary and Joseph felt that way sometimes? They really could have no doubt that the angel had spoken to them. After the angel of the Lord told Joseph that Mary’s pregnancy was of the Holy Spirit, Joseph was obedient. He married Mary. He brought her to the home he had lovingly prepared for her. And they settled in.
So things didn’t start out exactly as Mary and Joseph had planned, but they adjusted and followed God’s leading. Then God gave them the gift of time to build a foundation of friendship in their marriage. I imagine Mary must have been like any new bride, taking pride in setting up her household, giving it those special touches that make it a home. Joseph would have been established already in his job as a carpenter, working hard to support them.
We don’t know how their community responded to them during this time. Were they treated with condemnation and shame because Mary was at least 3 months pregnant before they were married? We’re not told. But if they were, perhaps it drove Mary and Joseph closer to each other, helping them form a stronger bond because of their shared assignment from God. And such a bond could only aid them. For there were unexpected difficulties ahead of them, which they would have to weather together. All in all, they made it through the initial challenges well. But then, new challenges appeared.
Unknown to them, Caesar Augustus was about to flex his authority and turn the Roman world upside down. You see, as Mary and Joseph were expecting the arrival of the Messiah, King of the Jews, their land was actually under the control of their Roman occupiers.
Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant. (Luke 2:1-5 WEB)
Wanting to keep accurate and thorough records of all his subjects, Caesar Augustus made a sweeping decree that all people should be registered according to tribe and family. These extensive records would be used to make sure every bit of taxes was extracted from the people and found its way into the coffers of Rome. Not only that, but the individual who registered also had to vow allegiance to the Roman emperor! Talk about adding insult to injury! Lest we forget, these were difficult times in Israel. Gamaliel speaks of a revolt led by Judas the Galilean during a census. (Acts 5:37) If the people had to vow their allegiance to Rome while registering to pay taxes, I’m sure many unhappy people would have been ready to revolt!
Caesar’s decree would have been a heavy blow for Joseph and Mary. It came at a very inopportune time for them. The King James translation of the gospel text says that Mary was “great” with child. Certainly not a time when anyone would want to make a slow and difficult 70-80 mile journey on foot. Even if they were blessed enough to travel by donkey or wagon, would you want to make such a trip over difficult terrain while you were very pregnant? I don’t think so!
We do not hear of any grumbling or complaining from Mary and Joseph in the text. Somehow, they made the necessary arrangements, packed up, and left Nazareth.
Were they in the company of other family members? Did this journey occur during the Feast of Tabernacles, as some suggest? It is unknown. Certainly no other support from family is mentioned by Luke.
And upon reaching Bethlehem after days, perhaps weeks, of travel, they find no welcome. Not even a place to stay.
While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:6-7 WEB)
Imagine Joseph’s despair and desperation as a first-time father trying to care for his new bride the best he can, only to have all of his carefully made preparations of a comfortable home for Mary and her baby to be falling apart in every way!
Did Joseph feel pressure to make everything turn out well? Did he ever think, “God’s called me to do this. I can’t fail Him now. It’s up to me to make things work out.” From our perspective of knowing how this story works out according to prophecy and God’s plan, we can see the folly of thinking this way. Much was outside of Joseph’s control. This was God’s plan, not Joseph’s. These things that seem like they are going wrong, aren’t hindering God’s plan. God will actually use these things to further His agenda. The Messiah is going to be born in Bethlehem, just as prophesied.
I don’t know if Joseph was feeling anxious about how things were going. But I do know my own heart and how these kinds of things can lead to anxiety and the pressure to perform. There is a fine balance in our lives between faithfully doing our best and falling prey to the thought that God’s plans entirely depend upon us to be accomplished. If God has called you to do something, you need to be faithful to do your part with the strength God provides. The rest needs to be left with God. Otherwise we will be crushed with the weight of a responsibility we were not meant to carry.
Are you under the weight of trying to make everything turn out perfect and right? Trust God. Review what He has called you to do. Examine what areas you may have “added” to this calling that might not be from Him, but just a construct of your own perspective and ideas. Are those things distracting you from the main calling He has given you? Re-focus on God’s original calling; make sure you are being diligent in those areas. Make sure you are going to God for the grace and strength to perform those things. And leave the rest to God, especially things that are beyond your control.
Of course, pray about everything, all of it. And listen to what God is saying to you through His word and wise counsel. We aren’t meant to carry it all or make everything perfect. We are called to be faithful. God is the One who will accomplish the miracles in His plan!
“Breath of Heaven,” by Amy Grant at Crossroads Christmas Special, December 27, 2020.
Scripture verses taken from the World English Bible (WEB), Public Domain.