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Sometimes I wonder what Joseph felt like when he found out Mary was pregnant with Jesus. The Bible lets us know that at first he was going to break things off with her, but didn’t want to make a big deal over it (Matthew 1:19). Maybe he thought Mary had been unfaithful. If he believed her, maybe he wasn’t sure he should shoulder that responsibility. I don’t know either way. But when he found out that this really was a miracle, part of God’s plan, and that he shouldn’t be afraid to take Mary, he accepted the responsibility (Matthew 1:20-25).

What must that have been like for Joseph? He was going to be the earthly provider and protector of the Son of God! Jesus willingly set Himself within a family, and God chose Joseph to be the leader of that family. But for people who didn’t understand or believe that Mary had conceived as a virgin, it probably looked like Joseph was either raising someone else’s child, or like he and Mary had gotten together before they should have.

Whatever Joseph and Mary had to go through, they believed God and trusted Him to have things handled. I’m sure that’s why God chose them, He knew they would choose to do the right thing, even when it was difficult. And as the leader of the family, Joseph would have to be quite faithful and trusting. I wonder what his prayers must have sounded like as he took care of his family. I wonder how he felt and what he thought about. I wonder how his family and friends felt about it. One day in Heaven I suppose I’ll ask.