Day 23: Joseph

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. — Matthew 1:24

Throughout our lives, we make countless decisions – some monumental, others seemingly minor. The major ones shape our future, while the smaller choices impact our daily lives. Among the most profound decisions we face are these: Whom will we serve as our God? Whom will we marry, if called to marriage? What path will we follow in our vocation? And many others. We all try to make such decisions based on whatever trustworthy information we have.

Joseph, the son of Jacob and the earthly, adoptive father of Jesus, found himself confronted with one of life’s most pivotal decisions. He was betrothed to Mary, but when he discovered that she was pregnant, he was faced with a crisis. In first-century Jewish culture, betrothal was a legally binding agreement – similar in weight to marriage today. In the honour-shame society of ancient Palestine – still resonant today in many Asian cultures, including my own – Joseph would have felt not only heartbreak but also public disgrace.

According to Jewish law, Mary could have been stoned for perceived infidelity (Deuteronomy 22:23–24). Yet Joseph, described as a righteous man, chose mercy over judgement. He resolved to divorce her quietly to shield her from shame. But just as he was considering this, God intervened. An angel appeared to him in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.”

Joseph could have disregarded the divine message. Yet Scripture tells us, “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” This act of obedience, contrary to his original plan and cultural expectations, demonstrates his trust in God and confirms the Bible’s testimony about him: he was a righteous man. The dramatic shift in Joseph’s decision came from listening to God and fully trusting His word. His obedience wasn’t passive compliance – it was active faith. Joseph not only heard God’s voice, he believed in God’s guidance and acted on it. This is a great picture of what righteous decision-making looks like.

Joseph is mentioned two more times in the next chapter (Matthew 2:13–15, 19–23), and each time, he listens and trusts God, which becomes evident through his obedience. Obedience was not the easy path, but it was the faithful one. In choosing it, Joseph was entrusted with the extraordinary role of raising the Son of God. Through his faithfulness, he played a vital role in fulfilling God’s redemptive plan.

We often claim to trust God, yet it is our obedience that truly reveals whether that claim is genuine. Obedience is rarely convenient, but it is always significant. It advances His purposes and ultimately brings glory to His name.

Joseph’s obedience prefigures that of his foster son, Jesus Christ, who “became obedient to death – even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:8). Jesus’s ultimate obedience advanced God’s purposes and brought glory to His name by securing the reconciliation of humanity with God.

Throughout my life, I have faced and made many decisions – some wise, others less so. The best decisions have always been grounded in prayer, guided by Scripture and aligned with God’s will – trusting Him whose obedience brought me salvation. More than twenty-eight years ago, I married Virginia – but only after years of prayer and waiting on God. It remains one of the most important and blessed decisions of my life. While our journey has included challenges, the God who brought us together has faithfully sustained us through each one.

Praise the Lord for the wisdom He delights to give to guide our steps! One day, each of us will stand before the judgement seat of Christ to give an account for what we have done (2 Corinthians 5:10). My deepest desire is that, like Joseph, I will be found among those who have listened to God and trusted Him – in other words, “did what the Lord had commanded.”