And Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.

Joseph knew his family history. He knew about David's adultery. He knew about Abraham's compromises. He knew about the scandals and the failures and all the brokenness that ran through his bloodline. And yet Joseph was doing his best to break the pattern. He was a just man. A righteous man. A man who loved God and tried to live honorably. Joseph was determined not to repeat the mistakes of his ancestors.
And then Mary tells him she's pregnant.

Now, doesn't Matthew's genealogy suddenly makes sense? It's almost like Matthew was setting us up so we wouldn't be surprised. After 42 generations of dysfunction, here comes one more scandal. Joseph's fiancée is pregnant, and the baby is not his.

Here's what I need you to know: Joseph found himself in a situation that was not what he wanted. It was what he had to deal with. How many of you are living in that same tension right now? You're trying to do everything right. You're trying to break the cycles that broke your parents. You're fighting to build something healthy and whole. And then life throws you something you never asked for.

Maybe it's a spouse who doesn't share your faith. It's not what you want. It's what you have to deal with.

Maybe it's a child who has walked away from everything you taught them. It's not what you want. It's what you have to deal with.

Maybe it's a boss who makes your life miserable or a health crisis that came out of nowhere or a financial burden that never seems to lift. It's not what you want. It's what you have to deal with.

Joseph could have reacted in anger. He could have made a public spectacle of Mary's pregnancy. The law gave him that right. He could have walked away and protected his reputation. But Joseph was a just man. Even in the midst of confusion and heartbreak, he chose to handle the situation with grace. He resolved to divorce Mary quietly so she wouldn't be shamed. Notice that Joseph didn't have all the answers yet. The angel hadn't appeared. The explanation hadn't come. Joseph was making the best decision he could with incomplete information.

That's where some of you are right now. You don't understand why you're facing what you're facing. You don't have clarity yet. But you can still choose righteousness. You can still choose grace.

Tomorrow we'll look at Mary and discover what it means to live a godly life in a godless place.

What situation in your life right now is "not what you want, but what you have to deal with," and how is God asking you to respond with grace?

Identify one broken situation in your life where you've been reacting with frustration or bitterness. Ask God to help you respond like Joseph, with quiet righteousness even before you have all the answers.