Chapter 1:
Being told your soon to be wife is pregnant, must have took a toll on Joseph ( Mathew 18 ) I am assuming he wanted kids. Just being part of that time was hard with the lack of resources and technology we have now a days but, they did have helping hands ( Kids ) lots of them . In fact in the genealogy of Jesus. Rehoboam had 28 sons and 60 daughters! ( 2 Chronicles : 21). You’d think he would stoped at 10 and 10 each, but they just needed the extra help i guess. Jesus was the brother of 3 boys and more than 1 sister. I wonder if he ever got a time-out or grounded. Was Joseph a patient father? I would assume so just because he listened to the angel and believed; which is the true antidote for being patient. If you see how great the outcome will be in the future, then why not be patient and wait for it by believing it's already here. Hebrews 11: 1 “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Even when the bible refers to us having as much faith the size of a mustard seed; we imagine it being the size of a watermelon. Joseph in his years has built up having that kind of character ( A man of Faith ). You just tell him once and he believes. Everyone has been inpatient in life but having just a little faith counters that. Keep in mind that situation are not forever. Joseph could have been thinking what they could say about him or Mary. Yet he was not worried about that and obeyed every command. All by just having faith and being patient in Gods promise.
Chapter 2:
So King Herod is after new born, Jesus. Does he feel threatened by what is being said about the new born King? How was it possible for an approximately 70 year old to feel like he had a competition?. Don’t let your ego take you to depths you cannot get yourself out of. Did he believe in the prophecy “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.” Micah 5:2. Not everyone who hears about the gospel will come forward to it. Be reminded that everyday his mercies are new. In some circumstances part of us comes out knowing we are not being a blessing to one another. God is more than willing to take part of your spiritual well being. “Look i stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, i will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20. Start with simple conversations. He does not need you to be fancy with how you ask. King Herod did not seek for guidance. If not he acted in selfishness. Feb 13, 2017 Kim Jong-nam was assassinated ordered by his half brother Kim Jong-un, currently North Korea’s supreme leader. The thought of someone taking his throne weighed heavily on him, that he had to annihilated his only competition. That is how King Herod felt. That need to get rid of the only thing standing in the way. “For i know the plans i have for you. They are plans for good, and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. Maybe God had a different plan in his life but he choose not to listen to the prophecies, and choose his own story.