The Book of Luke begins with Zacharias, a priest on duty in the temple, when an angel appeared to him with an announcement of a son to be born to him and his wife, Elizabeth, in their old age.  But in Zacharias’ thinking, this long-awaited answer to a prayer for a child now seems past-due.  However, God’s timing is not always ours, but His timing is always the right timing.

God needed a “voice” to help prepare the way for His Son, so He looked for a couple who both were righteous before Him, whom He could trust to raise this “voice” to live his life following God’s plan.  This choice is crucial; of all importance, and all significant for the next plan to be fulfilled.  This “voice of one crying in the wilderness” had to be someone devoted to fulfilling God’s call upon his life which would prepare the way for God’s Son.

Then we come to the next announcement, the coming birth of God’s Son.  According to the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6-7 it had to be a virgin, and God’s choice was the virgin Mary, engaged to Joseph, both of the lineage of King David.  Perfect for the fulfillment of all the prophecies spoken about the coming Messiah, the Son of God.

When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary with the news that God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son; she received this assignment with trusting obedience to God, even though I’m sure she knew the possible consequences of being found with child that is not of her engaged man.  She could have been stoned for adultery, because in those days the engagement was part of the marriage vows to be faithful, and for the woman to be pregnant that was not the engaged man’s child was in violation of the vows.

Another thought that comes to my mind when I think of how quickly she agreed to the message of the angel is did she even think about how Joseph would react?  Maybe she did.  But in knowing he was such a devout man of God, perhaps she also thought that he would know the Scriptures and do what was right before God.  Apparently, God trusted Joseph to do the right thing too, because He came to Joseph in a dream verifying the news that his wife-to-be was indeed pregnant by the Holy Spirit and would give birth to the Son of God. (Matthew 1:18-25)

God carefully chose this couple to raise His Son in this natural world, to love him, and to train him in the knowledge of God’s Word.  God knew the hearts of both Joseph and Mary and knew He could trust them to follow His plan for them in raising His Son; His Son who would save the world.

The challenge for us from this study: be willing to accept the plan of God for your life with trusting faith, even if you don’t know all the answers of how it will come to fruition.

Next week: The Arrival