Dream Come True – “Joseph: Impossible Dream”

We’ve been talking about the dreams and messages associated with the Christmas story, and it should be noted that the messengers in the story had their work cut out for them – because their messages were difficult to believe. Perhaps the hardest “sell” was to Joseph, who was required to believe something impossible. But the voice of God – verified by the Word of God – is an incredibly compelling witness to us.

1. Impossible Places (Matthew 1:20-24; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
   
   • The story of Joseph is the story of how we can have faith even in impossible circumstances. But the “impossible” message that Joseph received in his first (of four) dream – that Mary was pregnant by God’s Holy Spirit – was backed up by the prophecy of Scripture (Isaiah 7:14). God’s Word confirmed God’s message.
   • When we find ourselves in impossible places, where we can’t see how our situation or our dreams can work out, we need to camp in the truth and promises of Scripture – Scripture that will reinforce and clarify any dreams, needs or aspirations that we have.
   • If we’re looking for comfort and confidence in life’s most difficult and uncertain places, we must have the voice of Scripture speaking clearly to us – a totally reliable source of truth that will cut through our feelings, cultural messages and the words of others.
   • For Scripture to guide us, though, we must read it and engage with it in a regular, systematic way (beyond just consuming “the verse of the day”). We need to study it and meditate on it and memorize it, so that we can understand and obey it – because that’s where the value of Scripture truly lies.
2. Inconvenient Places (Matthew 1:19)
   
   • While the angel’s first message to Joseph presented an “impossible” truth, it also put him in an inconvenient place. Even more than just inconvenient, it was ugly and unwelcome and forced Joseph into a very uncomfortable situation, with a difficult choice to make.
   • Before Joseph’s dream, when he discovered that Mary was pregnant, he was faced with two bad options: make a public example of her for her (presumed) adultery – which could have led to her death – or take the shame upon himself by “putting her away quietly” (breaking the engagement and letting people think the baby was his). Because he was a “righteous man,” he decided on the latter.
   • Because of the message in his dream, he chose the impossible AND inconvenient option: he took her as his wife but maintained that the baby was from God. The voice of God, confirmed by the Word of God (Scripture), allowed him to have peace in both the impossible and inconvenient place he was in.
   • When we find ourselves in similar impossible and/or inconvenient situations, the question we should ask is simple: “If God brought me here, can he take care of me here?”  If we surround ourselves with the right people (those who trust his faithfulness and live by his Word) and immerse ourselves in his Scripture, we can know the answer clearly – YES!  And with that answer, we can have his peace.

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ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

These passages may provide additional insights related to the subject of this week’s message. All verses are NLT unless otherwise noted.

Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 41:10; Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 1:19-20; Philippians 1:4-6; 2 Peter 1:3-4

Video of the Week: Character of God: Faithful by the Bible Project

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

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1. When you read or hear about all the dreams and messages from angels in the Christmas story, what is your first reaction to them?

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2. Of all people, why do you think Joseph and Mary were chosen by God to be the parents of the Messiah?  

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3. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 again. What do you think Paul means when he says that “all Scripture is inspired by God?

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4. Reading on in the passage to verse 17, what are the “good works” Paul is referring to – and how does Scripture “prepare” us to do them?

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5. “Inconvenient” (i.e., ugly and unwelcome) places are likely more common for most of us than “impossible” places are.  What are some promises of God that we can lean on when we find ourselves in those inconvenient places?    

Did God resolve the ugly, unwelcome situation that Joseph was in (after learning of Mary’s pregnancy) by giving him the “impossible” message of her immaculate conception?  If not, what’s the message in that for us?