When The Journey Isn't Straight Forward

WHEN THE JOURNEY ISN’T

straightforward

T

he first Christmas; imagine that enthralling night of watching shepherds, choirs of angels and wondrous heavenly peace. The infant Messiah quietly slumbers while his new parents look on serenely. In tranquil Bethlehem, the stars gently twinkle while “the world in solemn stillness lay”1; a silent, holy night.

Except, it was probably nothing like that.

I suspect that the first Christmas wasn’t particularly peaceful or straightforward for Joseph and Mary. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if their journey to Christmas was plagued with anxiety, pain and unanswered questions. Perhaps it was particularly distressing for Joseph; the helpless husband of a young virgin in the throes of labour.

We’ve seen him in hundreds of pictures on Christmas cards, carvings in Nativity sets and little lads wearing tea towels on their heads in their school Christmas plays. We see him dutifully leading a donkey and knocking on inn doors. But do you ever wonder what was really going through his head that night?

We know from the story that Joseph was an honourable man of faith. Yet I struggle to believe that Joseph never once doubted the identity of the child Mary was carrying; never once felt afraid, confused or frustrated. Surely he must have thought, as we often do in challenging circumstances, Is this really God’s plan? Or have I got the whole thing completely wrong?

But wait—hadn’t an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream at the beginning of all this? Surely that was enough to sustain him during the difficult journey ahead. I’m not so sure. We human beings have a pretty short memory when it comes to God’s blessing and faithfulness, especially when life gets tough.

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“It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”

JOSEPH’S JOURNEY

As far as we know, Joseph was no spiritual giant. He wasn’t a rabbi or philosopher known for his profound insights. He was just a carpenter; a regular guy with an ordinary life who loved God and wanted to do the right thing. He had chosen a bride—or had one chosen for him—and his life was about to begin. Then, his world was turned upside-down by the news that she was already pregnant. Being an honourable man, he did not want to publicly disgrace her, despite the pain he must have felt.

And that’s when God stepped in:

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. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” . . . When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. MATTHEW 1:20-25 Then came the census; a massive upheaval for the nation as everyone was required to go to their hometown and register. By now, Mary was heavily pregnant; the timing for taking a long journey could not have been worse for her. And, as the well-known story goes, after their tiring journey, they then struggled to find somewhere to stay in an over-crowded Bethlehem.

If I had been Joseph, after the first few inns in Bethlehem were full, I would have started to pray. Please, Lord, we need a room. Make it a nice room in a nice inn. This is an important time and Mary’s been through so much on this journey. Please do something amazing and give her a lovely room in a really good inn. Let it be one of those miraculous provisions You do. We can’t take any more hardship right now.

So often the things God calls us to do aren’t smooth or glamorous. The dominos don’t always fall in a perfect pattern, and it causes my faith to wobble. Sometimes, when I pray for things to get easier, they get harder. When that happens I find myself second-guessing God; questioning His goodness or wondering if I’ve got everything wrong and messed up His plan.

I realise I am speculating; we don’t exactly know how Joseph felt or what he prayed. But I can’t help wondering if Joseph entertained doubts just as we do when ordinary life is stripped away and replaced with the challenge of following God into the unknown.

Consider what this calling cost Joseph. Firstly, his marriage plans were scuppered. No first century man dreamed of marrying a pregnant woman. He would probably be seen as immoral, being so dishonourable as to sleep with Mary before they were married. Otherwise, people would assume somebody else got her pregnant; either way, he looked bad. Fulfilling God’s calling cost him his good reputation.

Secondly, he kept his bride a virgin until after Jesus was born. This was not exactly the honeymoon he had imagined. He gave up his right to consummate his marriage. That can’t have been easy.

Finally, he had to take his heavily pregnant wife on a dangerous 90-mile journey in winter; up hills, down valleys, through forests and plains carrying their water and provisions. It probably took over a week. At the end of it, they had to stay in a make-shift accommodation which, presumably, had been used for animals. I doubt it was filthy; it was probably made somewhat clean and comfortable. But it wasn’t home and it wasn’t easy.

Look inside and see Joseph with Mary, watching helplessly as she is in labour. She groans, she cries, she shouts out in pain; and he can only watch. He can’t provide, he can’t protect, he can’t make things any easier. This is the moment I imagine him taking himself outside for a little rant at the Almighty. God, You could have stopped this journey.

You could have let us be at home with our family around. Her mum and sisters could have been with her instead of strangers. You could have provided a better place. You are God! You could make her labour a little easier; You could make the baby come quickly. After all, this is supposed to be Your conquering Hero! Why do we have to suffer for Your plan to be fulfilled?

I used to think any doubts and questions in Joseph’s mind would have melted away the moment he held the little Messiah in his arms that first time. But as any new parent knows, holding your newborn baby is not the end of the journey; it’s just the beginning. It’s daunting, stressful—and for Joseph, he had the added responsibility that this baby was meant to be the Saviour of the world. I could be wrong, but I see confusion and doubt in his eyes as he sits next to his new little family.

But then there were shepherds!

STRENGTH FOR THE WEARY

This might have been the moment that everything changed for Joseph.

There was a bustling outside. Shepherds came knocking, looking for a newborn baby. They talked over each other with some wild story about angels lighting up the sky and telling them to find a baby—the Saviour of the world! I sometimes wonder if God sent them just for Joseph. It was one of those moments when all that is wrong in the world fades away as God clearly shows Himself and His faithfulness to His people. This really is the Messiah! He really will save His people from their sins. And Joseph was there, right at the heart of the story.

Joseph’s name is recorded forever in the Scriptures. The reputation he may have lost in his local community was nothing compared to the

one he gained in God’s kingdom. He is the stuff of legend: the husband of the woman who gave birth to the Son of God; the carpenter who raised Christ. Joseph was a vital part of God’s incredible plan of salvation. And he was a frail and faltering human, just like us.

Each one of us is part of God’s plan too. Just as He did with Joseph, He wants to use us to bring the Saviour into a world that’s confused, hurting and looking for peace, especially after the disruptive and worrying year the Coronavirus has given us.

It may cost us our comforts and our reputation; we may have to give up control. Joseph's journey reminds us that straightforward paths are not the norm when we obey God. We will have doubts; we may struggle to understand the direction God is taking us in and the trials He leads us through. But what we can be assured of as we look back on Joseph’s journey is that God’s plan is always good; and all the twists and turns will be used by Him to help us bring Jesus into the world.

When everything seems dark and confusing and you can’t see what God is up to, remember Joseph and be encouraged. God will lead us just as faithfully and, in His perfect timing, He will send ‘shepherds’ our way to give us strength and keep us going.