Will I Trust God?
Introduction: As we near the end of 2008 and enter an ever-shrinking world we are faced with a question- a question Joseph had to ask himself. Joseph was faced with a pregnant wife-to-be. Legally considered married, Joseph and Mary had not lived together. Now she was pregnant. Joseph was faced with a question we each face. “Will I trust God?”
I. The Question
A. Is not: “Can I trust God?” This is a simple matter. Yes! I can choose to trust. Or, I can choose not to trust. “Can” isn’t the question.
B. Is not: “Should I trust God?” If God is God then the answer is yes! I should trust God!
C. Is: “Will I trust God?” I know I can! I know I should! But, “Will I trust God?”
II. The question Joseph asked
A. According to Luke after Mary gave her consent to become the mother of Jesus, she left Nazareth and traveled to Judea (Luke 1:38-40).
B. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months (Luke 1:56).
C. Mary returned home and was three months pregnant. Joseph then discovered that his legal wife was pregnant and he was not the father (Matt.1:18).
D. Joseph wanted to do the right thing in the right way (Matt.1:19).
1. Divorce her, not stone her to death
2. Divorce her quietly
E. God had a third choice! Isn’t it like God to have another option when we think there are only two? God’s option: marry Mary (20-21)
F. Joseph’s question: “Will I trust God?” Isn’t it interesting that the angel says “…do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife…” (20). Remember the oriental wedding had at least three stages:
1. The parents agree upon the marriage
2. The wedding ceremony, the pledge
3. The groom takes the bride home
4. Steps 1 & 2 had taken place. Now “fear” filled Joseph. Fear came into the world as a result of sin (Gen.3:10). Now Joseph was afraid. Joseph had to decide. “Will I trust God” or “will I be manipulated by fear?”
G. Joseph’s question: “Will I trust God?” After Jesus was born an angel told Joseph to go to Egypt. Egypt? Why Egypt? If God can cause a virgin to conceive can’t he protect the child? So the question: “Will I trust God?” (Matt.2:13)
1. God provided the finances through the Magi (Matt.2:11).
2. Joseph trusted God (Matt.2:14).
3. The move to Egypt was to fulfill Scripture (Hosea 11:1). Protecting Jesus from Herod was no problem for God!
H. Joseph’s question: “Will I trust God?” After Herod died an angel told Joseph to return to Israel (Matt.2:19, 20).
1. But Herod, who was dead, was furious and had ordered baby boys to be murdered (Matt.2:16).
2. Now Herod’s son, Archelaus, was on the throne. Maybe Joseph should stay in Egypt! (Matt.2:21-23)
3. No, Scripture had to be fulfilled (Matt.2:23).
I. The prophets through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said that Jesus would come from Nazareth. Although never recorded- it was spoken. The Scriptures taught that a virgin would conceive (Is.7:14) and that Jesus would come from Egypt (Hos.11:1).
III. The question we must ask
A. Never in my life time have so many pieces of the prophetic picture puzzle been set in place. Consider what has occurred over the last few months:
1. You are witnessing the unification of the American and world economies as never before in history.
2. You are witnessing Russia “the bear” from the north increasing in strength and associating with the Muslim world.
3. You are witnessing the rise of radical Islam as seen last week with the attack of Mumbai, India. India has the third largest Muslim population in the world with 150 million.
4. You are witnessing the strengthening of the European Union as displayed in the recent economic summit in Washington and the power of French President Sarkozy.
5. You are witnessing the strengthening of China, the nation with the army of 200,000,000 (Rev.9:16).
B. Joseph had fear (Matt.1:20). We all do at times! The question for each of us as we move closer and closer to the return of the Lord is this:
1. Will we be manipulated by fear?
2. Will we be motivated by trust?