The Man God Chose
When I was in the Navy, my wife and I had to make a will. We had our oldest son, and the lawyer needed an answer to a question neither of us wanted to think about: If something happened to both of you, who would raise your boy?
Not a pleasant conversation at thirty years old.
But imagine the same question on a cosmic scale. If you could pick one man—just one—to raise your only Son, what would you look for? What kind of character would matter most?
That’s exactly what God did. He handpicked Joseph.
Not a king. Not a priest. Not a scholar with credentials on the wall. A carpenter from Nazareth. A quiet man with callused hands and a Christ-sized heart.
Matthew chapter one introduces us to Joseph through the genealogy of Jesus. And if you trace the line back through the patriarchs, you’ll find something interesting. God didn’t choose Joseph because his family tree was spotless. He chose him because his character was steady.
And God tested that character early.
Picture the moment Joseph discovered Mary was pregnant—and the baby wasn’t his. In that culture, he had every legal right to have her publicly shamed. Deuteronomy even allowed the death penalty. A lesser man would have demanded justice. A proud man would have made an example of her.
But not Joseph. Scripture says he was a righteous man who didn’t want to disgrace her. So he decided to divorce her quietly. Even in his heartbreak, his first instinct was compassion.
That’s the kind of man God chose.
Then came the dream. An angel told Joseph the truth—this child was from the Holy Spirit. And Joseph did something remarkable. He obeyed. No argument. No second opinion. He took Mary as his wife, and when the baby came, he gave Him the name the angel had spoken: Jesus. Jehovah saves.
Christmas Evans was born in Wales on December 25, 1766. His father died young. He was raised by an alcoholic uncle. He couldn’t read until he was seventeen. And yet God chose him to become one of the greatest preachers Wales ever knew.
Shaky starts turn out well when God intervenes.
Maybe you don’t feel chosen. Maybe your résumé doesn’t impress anyone—including yourself. But God has never been interested in your credentials. He’s interested in your character. In your obedience. In your willingness to say yes when heaven asks.
Joseph said yes. And the world was never the same.
Keep Looking Up!
Heaven is closer than you think.
May God bless your day.
Related devotionals: Psalm 1 for men · Devotional for dads · Mary McLeod Bethune story
Want more from Pastor Rodney?
If today’s devotional spoke to your heart, my books carry these same themes deeper. Stories of God moving in ordinary lives, scripture for tired pastors and weary parents, and steady reminders that heaven is closer than you think.