Divine Protection In Human Form

These weekly devotionals I will be posting come from and are copyright to Pam Iannello, my pastor's late wife who went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2008.

I'm going to start posting these twice a week instead of once a week. I'm going to try to get to them on Sundays and Wednesdays. I don't know about you but I can't wait a week to get to them. Let me know in a comment if you like this better or not.

I appologize for any difficulties in locating past devotionals. The devotional index is now fixed and will take you to the desired devotion.

If you've ever wrestled with God's plan for your life, this series is for you! Based on the book of Luke and the lives of Zacharias, Elisabeth, Mary & Joseph.



This devotion is part of the "The Wonder Of It All" series.

Today I want to look further at Mary and then also take a look at Joseph and how he handled God's plan for the coming of the Messiah... Last lesson we looked together at the performance of Mary's faith. She trusted in the Word of the Lord and acted obediently upon what God had told her through the angel of the Lord. Because of that, this young lady experienced joy unspeakable! God had done some great things… What's next for Mary? We're about to see as we open the Bible to Luke chapter one, focusing in on verses 46-56:

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, [47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. [48] For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. [49] For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. [51] He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. [52] He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. [53] He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. [54] He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; [55] As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. [56] And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

No matter what circumstances she was faced with, Mary never lost the proper perspective of herself as evidenced by this portion of scripture. She saw herself through God's eyes and not her own. Both her soul and her spirit glorified God. She was ever mindful of the fact that she was unworthy in her own right and rejoiced in her Savior alone. That inward rejoicing spilled forth in the form of praise upon her lips. Mary praised God and lifted up HIS name, reverently reflecting upon all that He had done and would do, without one ounce of bitterness toward the way that the Lord had decided to use her. Though her circumstances were extreme, Mary brought no attention to herself in any way.

Sometimes we do that, don't we ladies? We look for opportunities to bring undue attention to ourselves. We become like sports commentators when we are going through a trial or when God is doing something in our lives we don't understand or appreciate. It is then that we typically give everyone around us a play-by-play description of our hardship. We actively portray our circumstances as living nightmares. Yet Mary exhibits nothing but praise for God! Not one complaint had been stated, not one word was uttered about how difficult this could be or how unfair it all was. Not once does she mention the percentage of suffering she might have to endure because of God's hand upon her life. Neither is there any “what-ifs” considered in worrying about the future or how Joseph might react; only praise to God is given on Mary's behalf! What an example this young woman is for us! You see ladies; genuine surrender pays tribute to to the name of the Lord. Is that your testimony of how you feel concerning what God is doing and has done in your life?

Psalm 72:18 (KJV)
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

As you look down through the preceding scriptures, notice how many times Mary says, "He hath". Eight different times she points out and praises God for His power and might. Mary has realized the power of God in her life and knows that though she does not know what the future holds for her, she knows WHO holds the future. Understanding permits Mary to rest in God's power rather than her own, and it is evidenced in her conversation! Have you come to that realization yet, dear lady? Do you have your own list of "He hath's" that you could share as Mary did? Has it ordered your conversation aright?? Mary was ever mindful of the things God had done for her, considering every one to be wonderful! In her willingness to yield to God, she gained the guarantee of God's protection, which leads us to Joseph…

How will Joseph, her soon-to-be husband, handle all this information in regard to his virgin? Will he respond as reverently to God's plan as Mary did? The Bible says that Mary stayed with her cousin Elisabeth for three months until baby John was born and then she returned to her hometown. Mary has had plenty of time to receive, accept, and rejoice in this plan of God's, but Joseph has not yet learned of the situation, for Mary has not even spoken with him yet. Turn with me to the book of Matthew 1:18-25 and let's see how the story continues to unfold....

Verse 18:
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Mary and Joseph were espoused, which by law, was the same as being husband and wife, except the marriage had not yet been consummated. Imagine Joseph's surprise when his dear Mary returned from visiting cousin Elisabeth three months pregnant! What a shock this would have been to him, amen? This woman that he had chosen to be his wife, this woman that he dearly loved, had been unfaithful to him? How could he have mistaken her godly character? This is the last thing Joseph probably expected of a woman like Mary.... In Deut. 24:1 scripture says that in such a case, the husband could write his wife a bill of divorcement and put her out. Is that what Joseph wants to do?? Let's look further into his character as we continue on into verse 19....

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

Joseph was a just man, a fair man. Always doing the right thing mattered to Joseph. I assume this is one of the important qualities that Mary desired in a husband that had attracted her to Joseph. In this particular situation, the acceptable thing for Joseph to do would be to put Mary away. Though he must have been deeply hurt, the Bible says Joseph didn't want to make Mary a public example. Therefore, he decided to handle the situation privately. Even while being stunned, surprised and grieved by this turn of events, Joseph was not yet aware what God was doing, yet he was not unkind in any way towards his wife. Joseph was a godly man who deeply loved the Lord and Mary. Hence, there was restraint within his spirit. The love in his heart dictated the way that he handled even what Joseph thought to be Mary's error with a gentle kindness; minus any ill will whatsoever. What a man!

Ladies, how do you handle what you consider to be the error of others? Do you deliberately seek to make a public example of that person? Are you quick to expose their faults and rake them over the coals, striving to punish your offender? A just person would not seek to get even, but would choose to handle the situation in a manner that would please the Lord. Joseph sought to do right and his actions were dictated by love, not by bitterness or hurt or a desire to strike back at Mary...

Verse 20:
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

In verse 20 we identify another quality about Joseph that is always a striking quality in a man: the Bible says he thought on things. And so, Joseph was not a hasty person. Therefore, he gave this situation and probably all matters serious thought. As he was meditating upon his present circumstances, Joseph probably drifted off to sleep after lying in bed till the wee hours of the morning pondering the whole affair from all angles. Maybe he had been praying for Mary… Perhaps Joseph was wrestling with the fact that it just didn't make sense that this woman, who contained all those wonderful, godly qualities a man looks for in a wife, would end up in a staggering situation as being with child out of wedlock! It was so unlike Mary, so out of her character. "It just doesn't make sense!" may have been Joseph's last thought before nodding off. Full judgment had not yet been formed, leaving him open to the Lord’s leading through a visit from the angel.

Ladies, what do you do when God doesn't make sense? Do you still trust Him? Do you maintain an attitude of prayer throughout your misunderstandings? Do you continue on in close fellowship with the Lord? Are you able to sleep soundly? Because his heart was not bitter, Joseph was comforted by the angel of the Lord and told not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. His fears were dissolved as the plan of God was revealed to his tender heart. Once again, the Lord took care of all the details for Mary and even spoke to Joseph, her espoused, on her behalf. This was not man's doing after all, but the Lord's hand in their lives together! God was with them both... When a man and woman are united in marriage, they are one flesh in the Lord's eyes. For this reason, Joseph was given the same instructions as Mary had been given...

Verse 21-25:
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Joseph, being a just, godly, man knew well the Scriptures and the prophecies about the coming Messiah. When the angel of the Lord spoke to him in this dream, it all made perfect sense to him and Joseph realized his position in God's plan. He was to be Mary's protector! Joseph rose from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife. Moreover, he sacrificially waited to consummate their marriage and knew her not in a physical sense till she had brought forth her firstborn son. Joseph put his own reasonable desires aside for the Lord's.... Then he reverently gave the baby the name of Jesus, just as the angel of the Lord had commanded, proving that he accepted his role in God's plan and was yielded to whatever instructions the Lord would give him. What obedience Joseph exemplified!

Why does it take us so long to obey God?? Why can't we just recognize our role in God's plan and follow through as Joseph did? Why can't we put our own desires aside and fulfill the Lord's wishes with such humble willingness? Did you notice that Joseph asked any questions? Was there any whining done on his part about how unfair it was to have to wait to come together with his wife till the baby Jesus was born? Were any worries displayed on his part about the juicy gossip that could spread as he decided to go through with the wedding? Joseph might even have been labeled a wimp for not putting Mary out, but what people said did not matter to him in light of God's will! None of these attitudes were exhibited in this young man's life, just plain trust and obedience! Praise God! It's no wonder that God chose this couple to be the earthly parents of Jesus Christ, amen? Mary wisely selected a good husband...

Oh, how we need to guide and encourage our girls and boys in their choices of spouses! It will make a distinct difference in their service to the Lord. I think you'd all agree with me that Joseph had many good qualities and was a wonderful man. Joseph was Mary's protector, one that God provided her with as she yielded to His design for her life. Ladies, God will always send perfect protection and direction along with His plan! No matter what impossible situation you might be faced with, you don't need to worry about how it will all work out, for God will look after you and guide your every step!

Ladies, Mary did not have to go through this surprise plan alone. The Lord was with her in Joseph, was He not? It was God's plan to protect and lead her through her husband. Remember that fact the next time you are tempted to buck your husband's authority! When you do, you are shunning God's protection and forsaking your own safety. As you read of Mary, you'll notice she did not have to enter into one battle with anyone for anything! Joseph took full responsibility for her and for Jesus and was faithful in his role as their protector and leader. Mary had the easy part; all she had to do was be faithful to follow. She was guaranteed protection and safety, as you and I will be when we yield to our Lord as willingly as she did... There is no blessing when we are stubborn and rebellious to God's plan and the authority He has placed over us!

Lastly, I challenge you to rise to the occasion of God's calling on your life and enjoy His Divine protection! The Lord loves you as He loved Mary and He will not leave you alone as He did not leave her alone! God accompanied this meek young woman every step of the way and He will accompany you as well! The Lord is your Great Protector... Have you refused such valuable, limitless protection only to settle for your own small, limited control? Have you fought hard against your husband's leadership in the home? Have you, in your obstinacy and unbelief, blinded yourself to the human form of God's intended support system? Divine protection is only a step away - a step of faith away, that is! Take that step and receive God's tender, personal care today!! Mary did and enjoyed the wonderful, loving, gentle, kind, obedient, godly security of a good man her whole life long!

2 Chronicles 16:9 (KJV)
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him....

God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2003 Meet Ms. Pam

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