Is God Being Unreasonable?
This might have been a natural question for Joseph when he received the angel's message in Matthew 2:13:
“Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt…” After accepting the miracle of the virgin birth and going through with his marriage, Joseph had every reason to be skeptical. By the standards of the time, he could have walked away from the arrangement. There wasn’t a logical explanation that could have persuaded him to stay, except through the gift of faith.
Not only did Joseph have faith, but he also obeyed when told to leave for the Child's safety. He could have questioned if God’s demands were becoming unreasonable. Hadn’t he done enough already? Why couldn’t God protect the Child Himself and spare them the hardships of a sudden journey to Egypt?
Faith isn’t just a gift to be treasured; it requires nurturing and obedience. While people can debate the details of Jesus’ birth, including the virgin birth, faith doesn’t require all questions to be answered. It’s
“the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Christmas brings joy and excitement for many, but the true and lasting joy is still ahead. For some, Christmas might bring sadness or loneliness due to personal experiences. Yet, like Joseph, faith allows us to see the bigger picture—both the One who makes the promise (God) and the promise Himself (the Saviour).
Whether we feel joyful or reserved about Christmas, may our faith help us focus on the bigger picture: the One who made the promise (God) and the hope of Christ’s return.