The Four Dreams of Joseph of Nazareth

If you Google Joseph, most entries say simply, “Joseph (carpenter.)” But the Lord has been impressing upon me that he was so much more. I am not the first to wonder about this man who serves such an important but low-key part in the Christmas story.  Because so little is written about him, however, I am left with many questions. What was the man like whom God entrusted with the day-to-day fathering of our Lord and Savior?  What qualities enabled Joseph to embrace so humbly the unexpected role of fatherhood? I do not profess to have these answers, but looking at Joseph’s life this morning has inspired me to make my life more like his in 2021.

Matthew gives us some insight into why God chose this particular carpenter for a world-changing mission that would require courage, discernment, and submission. To steer Joseph through the controversy and danger of the Lord’s conception, birth, and early years, Our Heavenly Father gave him four dreams. Joseph was not left floundering alone, dependent on his own wisdom and instincts.  God spoke directly to Him through these dreams that guided Him unerringly through what seemed to be some insurmountable challenges, especially daunting for a young, inexperienced father.  

Most people are familiar with Joseph’s first dream because it is cited often in the telling of the Christmas story:  

“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. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25

The most amazing verse to me is 24: “When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife.” There is no delay between waking and obeying. There is no quibbling over when the best time might be for Joseph, no reminding the Lord of what taking a pregnant wife will mean to his extended family’s reputation, no personal demands or requests—just immediate action to obedience. Not since Abraham has anyone knocked me out with such unhesitating submission to God’s will, and yet, Joseph does not enjoy the recognition Abraham did. Joseph gets very little ink. He is one of those background people God valued and relied on to help bring salvation to a world dying from sin and darkness. So the first thing Joseph’s life taught me was what simple obedience and immediate submission look like.

The second thing his life convicted me of was that Joseph did not do this for recognition or for a leadership position. He submits because this is what Father God has asked him to do, and there is no question that he will just do it.

The third thing I learned is that God may have something better in store for us than the life we have planned for ourselves. I only imagine that Joseph thought he would marry a girl everyone knew was chaste and have a simple uncomplicated life. Taking on this assignment was anything but uncomplicated, and Joseph had to know it would change his life, his marriage, and his family in ways he did not yet understand—but he obeyed anyway. He may not have become the much honored Father of a Nation like Abraham, but he had the uncelebrated honor of teaching young Jesus how to walk this earth as a man, because Jesus was fully man though fully God. Joseph had the privilege of providing Jesus years of sustenance long before Jesus’ broken body and blood would provide sustenance to our souls. Joseph was content to be a servant, and I want to be more like him.

The second dream was probably even more difficult to obey. When the wise men left the young family after Jesus’ birth, we see Joseph conform his life to the will of God in a dramatic escape:

“13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2: 13-15

Again, Joseph had probably thought he would live in Nazareth all his life, building a prosperous carpentry business through his neighbors, family, and childhood friends. In his wildest dreams, he had not dreamed of shutting down his business and moving to Egypt. Yet he picks up stakes and is gone, apparently overnight. His business, his future, and his thoughts about how things should go are abnegated completely as he conforms without a murmur to God’s will. So now Joseph has modeled for me how to abandon my plans, viewpoints, future, and very self at one Word from God. I think it would have taken me days of prayer and petitions to get to the point Joseph got to instantly. In this second passage, Joseph is modeling “less of me and more of you” that I pray for but have not yet attained.

So Joseph went to Egypt and must have looked for work to support his wife and newborn son. They had to find a place to live in a strange country; they had to learn the customs and where to buy food and how to deal with all the inconveniences of setting up housekeeping in a strange place. They both had to adapt to having no family around for emotional or physical support and all this while pondering God’s expectations of them as the earthly parents of the Son of God. A lot had happened. It seems that they barely got settled when God asked them to move again.

“19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.” Matthew 2:19-21 

Once again, after the words of the angel, the very next sentence says Joseph rose and did exactly what the angel had told him. It was as if Joseph’s efforts to relocate, to find work, to establish a home, to take a breather count for nothing- because they don’t. And Joseph seems to understand that. There is nothing in Joseph’s life that he seems to value above obeying the voice of God completely and promptly. At first, this stop and go lifestyle of constant change appeared to me to be an exhausting way to live, but the Lord showed me that it was not. Joseph clearly understood that if God had directed him to change directions, that God could be trusted to take care of his family and him when he obeyed.

I learned so much from Joseph’s example in this. Joseph’s complete trust in God to first tell him where to go and then to provide for all his needs in the process are helpful to me as I look at an uncertain 2021. After years of having somewhat of a career direction, the Lord has asked me to let go of most of what I know and am comfortable with. I usually like knowing what my destination is. I like having a schedule I can count on. I believe God gave me the model of Joseph’s unquestioning, obedient life for such a time as this. I understand that what God is asking me to do is nothing compared to what He asked Joseph to do; He asked so much more of Joseph. But I am inspired to move forward into 2021 not knowing how God will provide or what changes will look like when I get there. I have a deep desire to move forward confidently, trustingly, and eagerly. I want to run toward what God wants instead of clinging to what I know best. Knowing that the Lord was still providing for Mary long after Joseph apparently died is a comfort to me as I read the Lord’s words from the cross as John stands at Mary’s side: “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”

We do not always know how God will take care of us or our loved ones when we step out on faith, but we know He will.

The final lesson Joseph’s life teaches me is that God may direct me one way only to change that direction for reasons only He may ever know.

“22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he (Joseph) was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.” Matthew 2:22-23

I can relate to Joseph. Sometimes the Lord has told me in prayer to do something and then my path has been redirected or blocked. I wonder why God has changed my path when I had heard His original direction so clearly. You have probably been left shaking your head after one of those changeups yourself.

Perhaps the answer is in this last lesson in Matthew, which for me was the most needful lesson of all: It is not about me! God has a plan and a purpose for humanity and The Church. Some of these passages state that Joseph’s redirections were to fulfill what the prophets have said. That is important to the Lord. And if He needs to move me to accomplish His plan, it may not be to bless me or have anything to do with me. It may be for His glory and to effect His purposes in someone else’s life. After reading with awe what it looked like to submit to the honor of being used as Joseph did, I want the honor of being used like that. I want to be used even if no one ever sees it. I want to be used even if I never know why God asks some things of me. Please pray I will conform my will to His.

And I will pray that as you meet Him in your prayer time or read His Word, you will discern His direction. But I pray for something infinitely more exhilarating for you—that you will experience the beautiful submission we see in the life of Joseph.