The faith of a young carpenter

And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ…Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.  But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.  – Matthew 1v16;18-20


The world had not heard from God for four hundred years. Surely, when God spoke again, it would be to another Isaiah, or Jeremiah, or Habakkuk, or Malachi, or someone like that.

But no, the next time the world hears from God it is the most miraculous of situations. Though the exact chronology is not always clear, it looks like the next time God speaks it is to a man named Zechariah, a humble priest, to tell him what to name the son his barren wife was about to bear, but more on that later.

The next working of God happens to a young betrothed couple in the middle of nowhere. God’s spokesman appears to a young carpenter named Joseph to tell him that the love of his life is pregnant. Not only that, her child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

Imagine this challenge to this young man’s faith. He was supposed to believe that the woman he was about to marry was pregnant, but not because she was unfaithful to him. Her child belonged to God. He was called on to believe the impossible.

When the angel appeared Joseph had just decided to not shame her, but to privately end the betrothal. When the angle spoke to him he trusted God and carried on. His future was uncertain. He knew he would face ridicule for having a pregnant fiancé. As the world saw it either he had relations with Mary or she had been unfaithful. Either way was a shame.

But when the angel spoke he carried on his role as Mary’s husband. He became the surrogate father of the child.

How do we respond when we are called on to trust God in impossible situations? Isn’t that the real test of faith? If it were not impossible it would not require faith.

Oh God, give me the faith of this young carpenter to trust You with the impossible.