Two Men and a Truck

A Series on Living in the Wilderness: Part 2
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 1:18-25 

[This is Part 2 in a series of looking at people who lived in the wilderness. Not necessarily the wilderness of nature, but the wilderness of life. In fact, there are times when we all feel like we are living in the wilderness. During those times, it’s important to remember that the Lord is faithful. That He loves you and is always with you.] 

 

“Two Men and a Truck” is the name of a national moving company. It makes moving sound so simple. Like all you need is… two men and a truck. But moving is anything but simple. Moving… is stressful!

 

After eleven years of marriage, my wife, daughter and I moved to Columbus, Ohio from Lansing, Michigan. We only knew a few people through my job. Basically, we were starting all over.

 

So, we had to find a place to live, a new church, make new friends, find new doctors, and learn how to get around the city and where to shop. The move impacted every aspect of our lives. It was very stressful!

 

Joseph, the husband of Mary, knew what it was like to live through the stress of moving. Caesar Augustus decreed a census which required, what Joseph thought, would be a temporary visit.

 

The timing couldn’t have been worse as his pregnant fiancé was due at any moment. The 90-mile trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem probably took four days for them to walk… his first move.

 

Then, following a visit from astrologers from the east, he was warned that King Herod was going to try and have his infant son killed. So, Joseph took his young family and escaped to Egypt… his second move.

 

Finally, he was told that Herod had died and that it was safe to return to Israel. However, King Herod’s son was in power, so Joseph had to be very careful as he moved his family back to Nazareth… his third move.

 

For the first few years of his family’s life together, the stress of the unknown must have been palpable. Joseph had to deal not only with all the logistics and changes of moving, but also with the fear of losing his son. He was living in the wilderness but not without faith; not without affirmation; not without a sign.

 

When he first learned that Mary was pregnant, even though he knew it was from the Holy Spirit, he was still going to divorce her quietly so as not to disgrace her publicly. But an angel appeared to him.

 

²⁰ “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. ²¹ And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”            NLT

 

Then the angel quoted from the prophet Isaiah about a sign.

 

²³ “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’” NLT

 

How could he protect his young wife from the spitefulness and pain of gossip? How could he protect his son from a powerful, ruthless ruler who wanted him killed? How could Joseph provide for his family when his carpentry business was continually disrupted?

 

Joseph faced living in the wilderness by faith in the Lord; faith in the Living God who was with him. And… who is with us today.

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams