Lessons from a Bed of Straw Part 2: Obedience

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For some reason, a strange and almost impulsive desire to rebel comes over me when people other than those with clear and specific authority attempt to tell me what to do. I used the word “almost” because after many years of practice, I am usually able to pause long enough to reasonably assess the situation, filter what’s being said, and restrain myself from reacting too quickly or blurting out something that I will definitely regret later.

But that hasn’t always been the case, especially when it comes to God’s direction in my life. While there is no one with a clearer or more specific authority than God, like so many other believers, I still struggle with obeying a being I can’t literally see, touch, or physically hear. Even worse, my own strong need to be in control seems to overwhelm any earnest desire to trust Him in uncertain times and fearful situations. And the icing on this crazy cake of doubt is the nagging feeling, driven by pride, that makes me think that I just might be the exception to the rule. That if I could talk to God in person — really converse with Him face to face — He would see how special my situation is, how important it is that I know His plans ahead of time, and how critical it is that He gives me the desires of my heart.

Thankfully, however, He is sovereign and just, which means that He cannot be influenced to do anything that is not completely right. So, no matter how much I plead in prayer for relief or answers, my Heavenly Father won’t give me something that is not best for me and for His glory. Of course, His definition of what is “best” is usually different from mine, which is based entirely on my earthly experience and limited grasp of the bigger picture. When I am floating in the middle of an endless ocean of the unknown, it is impossible to see the shores of resolution He is guiding me toward. In this predicament, I have a choice. I can flail about to the point of exhaustion, which I have done countless times, making myself ill, both physically and emotionally. Or, I can trust in the God I can’t see, believing that He is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He can do, and that He not only knows where the shore is, but can also command the sea to bring me to shore whenever the time is right. If I love the God I claim to believe in, then I will trust Him enough to receive the peace He offers in the middle of an endless, and often apparently senseless, storm.

Once Mary announced her news from the angel, Joseph was immediately hurled into the middle of an endless, senseless storm. In a split second, he went from an ordinary, predictable life to complete and baffling chaos. To say that Joseph’s whole world changed is an understatement. Imagine the routine he had prior to the angel’s news. Life in the hamlet of Nazareth was probably fairly quiet and small compared to Jerusalem, which was teeming with political intrigue, bustling marketplaces, and religious activities at the temple. Joseph likely did what his father did, waking up every morning and walking into his carpentry shop. Day after day, he’d quietly work the wood, shaping it into a chair, a side table, or a cradle. But the day after the angel came was unlike anything he’d ever experienced.

I can’t even fathom what went through his mind. Mary’s story would be the equivalent of today’s science fiction or religious fantasy. Everyone in Nazareth probably knew each other, which meant hiding anything would be next to impossible. The weight that settled on Joseph’s shoulders must have felt unbearable. The sweet, seemingly innocent girl he had fallen in love with, had concocted some crazy story to cover up a grave sin punishable by death. As his mind flew between the hurt of utter betrayal and all-consuming anger toward the man who violated his bride, it is a wonder that he was able to sleep at all following the angel’s news.

At the end of Matthew 1, we read: “And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 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. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called His name Jesus.”

Somehow I think many of us read that and think, “If an angel appeared to me in a dream and spoke that clearly, of course I would obey, just as Joseph did. Oh, if only God would be so clear with me, I could go through anything if I knew all the details.” But I think most of us make a mistake with that assumption for two reasons. First, I think we erroneously believe that it was easy for Joseph after the dream and that he became miraculously comfortable with the whole outlandish scenario playing out before him. We must remember that he was just as ordinary… just as human as you and me. And secondly, we always underestimate what we think we need to feel comfortable or at peace. No reasons, explanations, or revealed plans will ever satisfy like we believe they will. That’s because our desire to know something is driven by our need for self-preservation and self-protection, both of which are the antithesis to trusting and loving God without reservation or dependence on self in any way.

In his classic book Trusting God, Jerry Bridges says, “Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold of the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us.” It comes down to this: if we love God, then we will trust God, and in order to trust, we must continually choose to obey. I don’t think the angel gave Joseph a magical injection of trust serum when he delivered his message. The angel’s message to Joseph didn’t end the chaos, it only signified the beginning, and Joseph loved God enough to obey without question.

Just as we did last week, I encourage you to use your imagination to put yourself in Joseph’s shoes. The storms of your life are no less important to our loving Father, and He is faithful to send you messages of direction, hope, and peace if you are open to receiving His often unexpected words. Joseph needed an angel to appear in a dream because he didn’t have the Holy Spirit residing within him. For those who have invited the Messiah into their hearts, we have the Spirit of the living God whispering to us, singing over us, and comforting us 24 hours a day. The problem is we’re often blinded to God’s messages because we’re looking for angels. Maybe not literally, but in a way, we childishly want God to make us the exception to the rule… we want Him to give us the immediate solution… we want Him to appear or talk in such an obvious way, that we miss His whispers from the Word on a daily basis. We don’t have the patience to cultivate a habit of prayer, meditation, and stillness before His throne.

As you continue through this Holiday season, take a few moments to evaluate your willingness to love God enough to obey as Joseph did. Take a few moments to be alone with Him and prayerfully listen to the song “Strange Way to Save the World” by Mark Harris. (Play on Spotify or YouTube) As your heart swells with appreciation, ask God to give you Joseph’s heart this Christmas. A heart like his anticipates the coming King. A heart that perseveres even among the unknowns. A heart like Joseph’s will do anything it takes — sacrifice anything — to serve His God and love others even when it’s uncomfortable. An obedient heart like his is willing to walk through darkness for the sake of the light that is to come.

For Further Reflection
For those of you who use these weekly posts as devotional content, here are three reflection questions to ponder.

• Before we can truly love we must truly believe. Do you really believe God is who He says He is and that He will do what He says He will do? What areas of belief do you struggle with? Why? Using an online topical search, look up verses that address your doubt and commit to memorizing at least one them.
• Read Matthew 25:21. What kind of “angels” have you been waiting for instead of turning to Scriptures and prayer to find your answers and direction? What are some of the “little things” from the Bible that you have not been faithful to obey? (i.e. tithing, forgiving someone, purity, etc.)
• Read Lamentations 3:22-23. How does this change your perspective on your current circumstances or a problem you are facing? What kind of “mercies” do you think God gave Joseph and Mary on the day the news broke across Nazareth?

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