Obviously at some point before the angel's message, Mary told Joseph about being pregnant. And obviously, Joseph didn't quite believe her when she explained WHY she was pregnant. And according to their laws, Joseph had full rights to have Mary stoned to death for committing adultery. Because Joseph was a believer, he didn't want to follow through on that right; and because Joseph was a believer, the angel coming to him with the following message finally convinced him that Mary was telling him the truth about the situation...
(Matthew 1:18-25) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. 19 And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. 20 But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.” 24 And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, 25 but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus.
Today's takeaway: this is one of those "love believes the best" scenarios. Joseph didn't do that at first, but - okay - really - Mary's news would have sounded a little far-fetched, even when someone would have known what the scriptures said about a virgin birth. But how easy is it to react negatively to something before getting all the facts. One just has to remember to consider if something supports and is backed up by scripture...
(1 Corinthians 13:1-8a) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails...
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