Good People in Difficult Situations
Part 3 – Do You Believe in Angels?
18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: when as His mother Mary was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with Child of the Holy Spirit.
19. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately.
20. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary as your wife: for That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
21. “And she shall bring forth a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.”
22. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by His prophet, saying,
23. “Behold a virgin shall be with Child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel,” which being interpreted is, God with us.
24. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the Angel of the Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife.
25. And knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn Son: and he called His Name Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25
Facing Life’s Difficulties
If there is one thing that can be said of all humans, everyone will face difficult situations in life. They will either face them in time or when they exit time. For that reason, everyone will need Heavenly intervention.
It is sad to think that the sci-fi mentality has crept into the Church resulting in many thinking of the ministry of Angels as some visitation of aliens from another planet or other galaxy. Please understand that God Almighty is sovereign over all creation. That means that all beings were created by Him and for His purpose. Even the evil beings were created to serve God’s purpose and for His Glory. That being said, we should not think of it as a strange or extra-terrestrial encounter for God to send Angels to do his bidding and to relay His message during the difficult times on earth. As a matter of fact, if the demons of darkness are attempting to dictate their evil plans, you had better believe that God Almighty will reveal His plan. This is especially true when humans stand in the need of divine guidance. God will intervene and show us His will. God reveals His plan and His will through the Bible. God reveals His Will through other Spirit-filled believers. God also reveals His Will by sending Angels. This we have witnessed throughout the course of human history.
Humans are in constant need of direction because they face issues of life that are beyond human comprehension. When there are matters taking placing that involve us fulfilling God’s plan, but beyond our level of comprehension and knowledge, that is when we will need God’s guidance. That is where prayer comes in. That is where meditation comes in. That is where the Power of God’s Wisdom comes in. The things revealed (earthly) belong to us, but the things that are hidden (unrevealed and Heavenly) belong to the Lord. Deuteronomy 29:29. There will be times when “stuff” is over our head. You might call them Jacob’s Ladder situations; these are situations where you have to leave town but don’t know where you are headed. As you recall Jacob was forced to leave the comfort of home because his brother was planning to kill him, but he didn’t really know what was next for his life. While Jacob lay down to sleep, God visited him in a dream and let down a Ladder from Heaven. But it was not just a Ladder; Angels were descending and ascending to bring information to the struggling young man and to take information back to God. Here is the Good News, nowhere in the passage does it say the Ladder was exclusive for Jacob. I believe all believers can receive God’s Guidance whenever they find themselves in situations that require Divine intervention. (see Jacob’s Ladder, ref. Genesis 28:12-13)
Turn Difficult Situations Into Divine Opportunities
As the text in Matthew 1 reveals, a young man named Joseph found himself in one of those difficult situations. He pondered which way to turn. Should he report Mary to the Jewish leaders and place her life in jeopardy? Should he give her a private ‘writ of divorce’ and simply move on with his life? Those questions were troubling and complex. His decision would impact him as well as Mary’s life. His dilemma needed Divine intervention.
There are times in life that you will find yourself in a Divine situation that cannot be fully comprehended by the human mind. One wrong move could be the difference between total victory and total disaster. In those moments, our every move must be carefully calculated and carefully directed by God. The Bible says, the steps of a good person are ordered by the Lord.
In April of 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. described a difficult situation where he had been stabbed by an attacker a decade earlier in 1958. While recovering from his near fatal wound, a young white girl read about his situation and comment of the doctor who removed the letter opener from Dr. King’s chest. The physician said the weapon was so close to “his heart that if he had sneezed, he could have died.” Dr. King relayed how that little girl’s note simply said, “I’m glad you didn’t sneeze.” In his Memphis speech, Dr. King paid tribute to the little girl by saying, “I too am glad that I didn’t sneeze.”
“Because if I had sneezed, I wouldn’t have been around here in 1960, when students all over the South started sitting-in at lunch counters.” “If I had sneezed, I wouldn’t have been around here in 1961, when we decided to take a ride for freedom and ended segregation in interstate travel.” “If I had sneezed, I wouldn’t have been here in 1963, when the black people of Birmingham, Ala., aroused the conscience of this nation and brought into being the Civil Rights Bill.” “If I had sneezed, I wouldn’t have had a chance later that year, in August, to try to tell America about a dream that I had had.” “I’m so happy that I didn’t sneeze.” (“I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech, Memphis TN, April 3, 1968).
That sneeze represents human movement and our efforts to make things better or to solve our problems. Dr. Andrew Young said that while awaiting medical attention, “Martin remained completely calm, as was his nature” … “he realized that a wrong move could have ended his life.”
Please note that Joseph faced his situation not with panic, but with careful thought. Had he panicked, if he made a wrong move (or sneezed) that would have meant sudden death for Mary. This brings us to the first observation. Most of the time we will face difficult situations without all the facts. As you may recall, Joseph was not present when Gabriel made the announcement to Mary that she had been chosen to give birth to Jesus Christ. As Mary tried to relay that message to Joseph it didn’t seem credible. But Joseph didn’t sneeze, nor did he overreact. Instead, he thought on these things. Please understand that many situations will involve a sense of urgency, but urgency should not forfeit the facts. Do some soul searching. Do some Bible checking. By all means, pray.
This brings us to another observation; we often conclude an investigation by only relying on our own understanding. There is something troubling in the text that must be noted: Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. Why does the text not mention that Joseph prayed? He was a just man, but it does not indicate that he was a praying man. With that being said, God looked beyond Joseph’s fault and saw his need for Divine Guidance. In all this, Joseph didn’t sneeze or make a wrong move.
The Lord watches over us for our good but also for His Will to be accomplished. It appears that we are often more focused on our good than God’s Will. The truth of the matter is that God’s Will is going to be carried out, with or without our participation. But I am glad that Joseph did not sneeze. He laid down to sleep and was thinking about the tremendous situation he faced. But while he thought on these things, behold the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “Joseph, you son of David, fear not to take to you Mary as your wife: for That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” During the night, God sent His Angel down the Ladder and communicated to Joseph the Truth. God informed Joseph not only of the Truth, but also gave him an assignment to fulfill. Joseph was to act and fulfill the role of husband to Mary.
This leads us to our final observation where we discover that Divine Opportunities are often wrapped up in Difficult Situations. This was not a situation that Joseph and Mary stumbled upon, and in-turn needed God’s help. This was God’s Divine Plan that caused the Difficult Situation. In the words of Henry Blackaby (author of Experiencing God), this was a “God-Sized Situation” and it required God’s Guidance. In my own mind, I believe the Angel was sent to keep Joseph from sneezing and making the wrong move. He could not take on this God-Sized matter without God. No matter what I think, the Angel’s visit worked. Look at what happened next.
The Call from Dilemma to Duty
The Angel visited and relayed God’s message and Joseph acted (not reacted). No, he did not wait a couple of days to “cool down.” Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the Angel of the Lord had bidden him and took unto him his wife … And knew her not until she had brought forth her firstborn Son: and he called His Name Jesus. This tells me that Joseph was now operating under the Power of Divine Guidance. At some point in life, we must move from embracing the Truth to being empowered by the Truth. If God speaks, we must act. God’s Word is our call to action and ultimately real ministry.
Here is the point, if Joseph did not act on God’s Word, he would have by default, acted on his own understanding. Delaying action would have meant disobedience to God’s Will. Remember, Mary was already carrying the Christ Child. She needed someone to fulfill the role of husband and that man was picked by God; his name was Joseph. Had God not sent the Angel to help Joseph, the results could have been tragic. Here is the Good News, God knew Joseph’s situation and He knows our situation. Of course, you are not called to be the husband to Mary, but you may have a Divine Opportunity to meet the needs of someone in your family, your church, or your community. You may not know how God plans to use you but believe it or not God does plan to use you.
Here are a few take-a-ways we can glean from the Angel’s visit to Joseph. First of all, when God’s message comes to your mind, kick your plans to the curb. No need to keep them around occupying the ‘woulda, shoulda, coulda scenarios’ of regret. Second, take the ‘What’s in it for Me Element’ out of the mix. Even though there will be rewards for faithful service to God, you cannot listen to God’s message if you spend too much time looking in the mirror to see how it “blesses you.” Third, realize that God’s message for you may not be for everybody. Joseph did not confer with family and confidants about God’s plan (at least not according to the passage). He simply carried out God’s plan quietly and obediently as he was instructed by the Angel. Please understand, God’s Plan for your life does not require public support. Lastly, carry out God’s will without sneezing your way through the process. Note, sneezes are allergic reactions to something. A sneeze indicates that your body does not agree with something. The fleshly mind does not agree with God’s Will. You cannot serve God and the flesh at the same time. Trying to do so will make you sneeze. Whatever you do for God, make sure you take the medication of God’s Word. Just don’t sneeze.