Joseph's Dilemma (Part 5)

Mary tells Joseph she is with child. (Source: Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of PE)

“Ow!” Joseph exclaimed, as the carpenter’s knife bit into his hand. He grunted in annoyance as he realized that he had put a gouge in the table leg he was carving. With a sigh, he set it aside and he chose another piece of wood to start again.

As he shaped the wood, he pondered again the decision he had to make. Realizing his mind was elsewhere, he decided that it was time to quit for the day. Since the sun was setting, he went to make himself a simple supper of bread and cheese. Just a few months ago, he had been filled with joy as he and Mary had been betrothed at a ceremony at her parents’ house. Life had seemed so simple then.

Joseph had waited a long time to find a wife. He had carefully built his carpentry business there in Nazareth until he was sure that he could support a wife and, if God was kind, some children. It was not uncommon in his time and place for young man to take quite a few years to come to this happy state. So Joseph had worked hard and skillfully for a long time before he asked his relatives to help him to find a suitable wife.

They had found just the young woman for him, a devout maiden of good family who was a willing girl with a loving and kind heart. During the time after their betrothal, as they waited for the proper time to go by before they would be married, Mary and Joseph found delight in each other and their affection grew. Everything foretold a happy marriage.

Joseph thinking about staying engaged with Mary or divorcing her.

But then, a few months ago, Mary told Joseph some stunning news. She was pregnant! He knew that he wasn’t the father, because they had remained pure in their relationship and honored God by waiting until marriage. Joseph was nearly overwhelmed with the hurt and embarrassment. Soon after that revelation, Mary was sent by her family to stay with her relatives in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile Joseph stewed. He was in his rights to denounce her to the town, but he couldn’t bear the thought of the trial and punishment that Mary would be subjected to. If he were to marry her anyway, it would be assumed that he had not been able to control his own feelings. He would be ridiculed and shamed. So his thoughts went around and around while he considered what to do. A decision would need to be made soon, though. Now that Elizabeth had had her own baby, Mary would be coming home any day. Her condition would be obvious to everyone.

As he ate his meal, he decided that he would quietly break the engagement and refuse to discuss his reasons with anyone. Then perhaps Mary would find a home elsewhere and live with her shame however she could manage.

That night, as he went to bed and said his evening prayers, he asked that God would bless his decision. But God had other plans.