JOSEPH THE PROTECTOR

 

We don’t know much about Joseph, but we know this. He was a just man (Matthew 1:19). He was also an obedient son of God who took Mary for his wife under instruction from God, not fearing any man (Matthew 1:24).

To say that Joseph took his responsibility as Jesus’ guardian seriously would be an understatement. He followed every instruction he received, without question. When instructed to protect Jesus from Herod’s edict, he took the family to Egypt to fulfill this prophecy: “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son” (Matthew 2:12-15).

But why all the way to Egypt? So that “whenever Israel remembers how God had delivered them with a mighty hand from the bondage of Egypt, they will think also that the Son of God was called out of Egypt to deliver them from the bondage of sin” (Bruce R. McConkie, “The Mortal Messiah Book 1” p 364)

The third time an angel appeared to Joseph, he advised him that Herod was dead and that he should take Jesus back to Israel. Joseph was not only obedient but over-cautious in protecting his charge, and instead of Judea, he took his family to Galilee, to a city called Nazareth, to fulfill yet another prophecy: “He shall be called a Nazarene” (Matthew 2:21-23).

This is why I think Joseph obeyed all the instructions he received so readily.  He was converted to the prophecy of the long-awaited Messiah. When he heard from the angel that Mary will bring forth a son who shall save his people from their sins (Matt 1:20) he joyed in the realisation that the long predicted coming of the Messiah was at hand, and ‘a virgin, and she the one in the world most dear to him, had conceived, and in due time would bring forth that blessed Son, Emmanuel, which name by interpretation means “God with us” (James Talmage, “Jesus the Christ”, p 84)

Joseph reminds me of his fore-father David who dared to slay Goliath with this conviction on his lips: “Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:29).  David lived for the cause of Israel and Joseph, who had the right to David’s throne through lineage, had a greater cause, to raise the Redeemer of Israel. The Saviour was sent to the royal line to which He belonged, to one day sit on the throne of his father David to rule over Israel forever (Luke 1:32; see James Talmage, “Jesus the Christ” p 85,89,90).

ODE TO JOSEPH:

As a tender plant , I grew

In the shadow of your wings

Never knowing danger was so near;

Your protection and your love

Dispelling all my fear.

 

When God called,

So willing was your tender heart

No forces of hell could sever you

from your appointed path.

 

The guardian of my youth,

The obedient servant of the Lord,

Thou art Joseph

The valiant son of God.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: On To Egypt by Rose Datoc Dall)