“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.” -Matthew 1:18
Betrothal, for Mary and Joseph, took on a whole new meaning after the angel came with news of the coming Messiah. The hardships they endured during this season of betrothal tested both their commitment to God and to one another under the most unimaginable of circumstances. To be betrothed at the time of Jesus’s birth meant more than a simple engagement.
Mary and Joseph were betrothed which meant Joseph was referred to as Mary’s husband already, though they had not yet lived with one another or begun their married life together. It was in this season that Mary became pregnant with Jesus. Her pregnancy called into question not only her integrity, but that of Joseph as well. Joseph, being a just and loving husband, was ready to leave the life he had planned with Mary and to end their betrothal in a quiet divorce, as would have been the Jewish custom. This was before God intervened and gave Joseph the confidence and faith he needed to remain betrothed to Mary and take her as his wife.
Mary and Joseph’s commitment and great faith in God in this season are remarkable. What would have been a period of great excitement and anticipation of their upcoming wedding had become a season of testing and trust in God. Yet, we see both Mary and Joseph walk together, with faith and commitment. They did not give up. They did not run away. And God was faithful to them, even though their journey of obedience was not an easy one.
When our lives take us down paths of difficulty, remember that we are not alone.
Since the creation of the world, God has remained faithful to His people. He gives us faith when our own disbelief seems overwhelming. And He offers us His strength when the road ahead seems too much for us. Remember, Joseph and Mary’s betrothal still brought them to the marriage they had been hoping for! While the journey may not be what we’ve planned, the final resting point is always the faithfulness of God
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