Joseph the Carpenter

I just went to a Bible study where we are studying Matthew. Honestly, I didn't know where this was going to go. The events leading up to Jesus aren't that fascinating, are they?

We began talking about Joseph (earthly "father" of Jesus). I have never really spent much time thinking about/ studying this guy. Come to find out, he is really awesome. First of all, in Matthew 1:19, Joseph is called "a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace..." First and foremost, we are introduced to a QUALITY man. His betrothed - Mary - turns up pregnant and he's not the father AND they aren't married. Scandal. Mary could have been called a harlot and stoned. But Joseph, the righteous man, didn't want that for her. He was going to call it quits quietly and not open her up to disgrace. How many guys do you know who would want to keep that quiet? Not many. This is a righteous man.

Keep going... in 1:20 is says, "But after he had considered this, 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."

A few things... an angel comes to Joseph in a dream (does this remind you of any other Joseph's in the Bible?). This Joseph, carpenter, would have known of OT Joseph and known the trouble that his dream got him into. Joseph and his coat of many colors got him thrown in a pit, left for dead, sold into slavery, accused of abuse, thrown in jail, then redeemed to the head of Egypt to save his people from famine. All of this our NT Joseph would have been very aware of (he is a Jew). Could that story have gone through his head?

But I think the most important part of this passage, and our getting to know Joseph, the carpenter, is this part of v. 20: "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid... "The angel straight up tells him, "Look, I know who you are, where you came from and what's ahead. I got this under control."

Isn't that was all of us need to hear? I know I do. I know I need to hear, "Tatum, you are a child of the most high God. You are an heir. I know what's going on. I know what's ahead." The angel is speaking directly to the part of us that was shattered when sin entered the world - our identity.

The angel tells Joseph his name - a way of identity, but does one better when he says, "son of David." Joseph would have known that the Messiah was to come from the line of David (again, he was a Jew). I'm sure his ears perked up when he heard that part of the message. That went from "I know you're name and I know you superficially, to I you. I know your past. I know your people."

Lastly, the angel tells Joseph "do not be afraid." This statement is said so many times in the Bible and yet, we miss is all the time. I see this angel with his hands outstretched to Joseph saying, "I got this all figured out. There's no need to worry. I've been there. I saw what God was going to do and it all worked out for good."

This is what I wish we could get, what I wish I could: that God knows us, intimately. He knows our pasts, our families, our histories, good stuff, bad stuff. And He knows what the future looks like. We have no reason to be afraid, because He already has it all figured out.

"Tatum, daughter of the Most High, do not be afraid."

Oh, what a season!

So much has gone on in the past 6 weeks. I can hardly believe it.

I had 4 friends get married in the months of May and June. I took 2 summer school classes in a month, started a new job, am still working an old one, took a missions trip, and my sister had a baby :)


Wow.

Walking through a season like this has definitely tested my faith. It's hard to sit back and watch all this stuff go on for other people. I've watched myself struggle with jealousy, lonliness, fear, but also walk into incredible joy, compassion, and growth. I can't sit here and say I did everything right. I did not react in the most Godly way to all of the situations set before me, and I did shed a few tears at the constant rate of change going on in my life. But God met me. And that's all that really matters. I learned a new facet of His character - the faithful one.

I've also learned: the only constant is change.

I've spent countless hours on the phone with my council, studying God's Word over coffee, driving so I could clear my mind, just wondering where I fit in to all of this. Most of the questions I have do not have answers (yet), but I've gotten to the place where I have the ability to ask questions.

I heard a pastor once talk about how we should never question God. I'm not sure I totally agree with that. My mentor for the past 10 years has always said, "Just because you got mad, God did not fall off His throne. He can handle it." I agree with that. I ask God "why?" alot. I consider myself a lifelong learner, and I want to know why stuff is happening. I want to know what God is up to. I want to know where I'm going. I'm type A, OCD, and I even color code my calendar. So, I want to know. I mean, He wired me, right?

On my long drive to Atlanta to see my niece (!) for the first time, I was thinking about this. Here's my revelation: My desire is not to try to figure out God - that's not possible, I want God to deepen my trust in Him. I want, somehow, to understand and trust God's sovereignty.

Psalm 84:11-12
For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.

I can trust anyone who is lighting my path and shielding me from danger. He's proven Himself time and time again. For He withholds no good thing from those whose walk is blameless.

My heart's cry has become outsmart me, God.

Teach me I'm blessed.

It's definitely an ongoing process, but I know He's working. I know He's growing me. I know He's using me. And I'm getting to experience some pretty cool events.

And at this point, there's really nothing cooler than being an aunt :)