God's ways and plans are higher than ours. When faced with His instructions or opportunities, we must choose whether we will trust and obey or push our own agendas forward.
"18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant from the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband, Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly."
Matthew 1:18-19 CSB
Startling News
Joseph was a just man and instead of being outraged and seeking to punish Mary for her assumed unfaithfulness, he planned to quietly divorce her and protect her from as much public humiliation as possible.
Even though they were not fully married, the relationship was legally binding and required divorce to dissolve. It would have been impossible to keep the situation totally under wraps, but Joseph planned to take care of the divorce as privately as he could.
"20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'"
Matthew 1:20-21 CSB
Change of Plans
No other accounts of someone being pregnant by the Spirit of God existed, and it is clear this declaration by the angel was powerfully persuasive. Joseph realized this would be significant and that he was chosen to be a major part of what God was doing.
From the very beginning, God's plan has been for Jesus to bring salvation to the world so that we might be saved. Joseph would have the honor of shepherding and guiding the one and only Son of God if he chose to listen and obey.
"22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
23 See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name him Immanuel,
which is translated "God is with us."
24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the Lord's angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not have sexual relations with her until she gave birth to a son. And he named him Jesus."Matthew 1:22-25 CSB
Prophecy Fulfilled
These events were the fulfillment of God's promises from many years before.
Joseph was willing to lay aside what he thought was best for what He knew was God's plan. What God had planned for Mary and Joseph was better than anything they had planned for themselves.