Joseph's Plan or God's Plan

   As young adults you have your whole life in front of you, especially if you are a teenager.  You contemplate about what a great job you would love to have, dream about your future spouse or if married, the children you will have.  I imagine when Joseph asked for the hand of Mary in marriage, they dreamt about the perfect life together. 

   Then we read Matthew 1:18-25 and see God had other plans for the two of them.  Here was Mary, engaged or the term is betrothed to Joseph, which among the Jews, marriage vows were said at the betrothal and required divorce to end them.  This custom indicated about a year before the bride would take up residence in her husband’s home and physical union be consummated.  What an exciting time and essentially you were husband and wife within your community. 

   If a woman was found to be pregnant during this time, a husband could publicly divorce her, indicating to everyone, he was not the one who got her pregnant and cleared his name.  When Joseph found out Mary was pregnant and absolutely knew he did not get her pregnant and after working through somewhat of the shock, he resolved to quietly divorce her but in essence not break the engagement because he was a righteous or just person.  His love for her was extremely deep and wanted her to be exposed as little as possible to public disgrace. 

   To be a just or righteous perso ...