Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph's first dream. Mary and Joseph are betrothed but when Mary "was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit," Joseph "being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly." But as he considered this, he had a dream in which an angel told him not to be afraid of taking Mary as his wife and explained that the child 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." This is to fulfill the prophecy that a virgin will conceive and bear a son, Emmanuel (God with us). When Joseph wakes up, he does as the angel commanded.

Just a week ago I blogged about Joseph's second dream - to flight to Egypt - after having a very potentious dream myself. Last night, I was talking about Josephs' Egypt dream in PREP and how Jesus was saved from Herod's slaughter of the innocents because Joseph believed his dream, and one of my kids (Joseph!) said quote "That's why we have God!"❤️❤️❤️ That is why we have God - he is always asked looking out for us! He knows exactly what has to happen. In God's plan, Mary and Joseph had to get married - he had chosen the perfect mother and father for his only begotten son. But they have free will and so he had to ask them and alleviate their fears. He did not want them to be Jesus' parents by being strong armed into it. So he sent angels to them to talk to them.

I like how this says Joseph was "resolved" but then immediately says "while he was considering this." So he wasn't as resolved as he thought! He was trying to discern what to do. He truly was a just man and he was faced with a very confusing situation - what did God want him to do? He knew the law, but he also knew Mary. So he was considering and, being holy, asking God, and God, as he always does, answered him.

Joseph's dream was in unequivocal sign of what he was to do. Joseph trusted and answered. And we know the rest of the story...