a just man

matt. 1-
"And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things..."
joseph was hurt. the woman he loved, who he was to marry, was pregnant. as far as joseph knew, she had cheated on him. this was utter betrayal, that which breaks a heart beyond what it has ever known. joseph must have been in anguish, deeply depressed, that the woman who was to be his wife must have been with another.

yet we do not see what far too many consider the masculine response: he did not freak out, go on a rampage, and have her killed, which was his right by hebrew law. he doesn't let his pain and his rage get ahold of him. instead, we see that he "resolved to divorce her quietly." he made up his mind to be a better man, showing grace to one who had harmed him in a way no other could. he was "unwilling to put her to shame." why? because he was a "just man." oh, that God would raise up more of these in our day; that He would take broken men like me and raise us to be called just. let us aspire to this, men, and let women seek this out and encourage it in the men around them. that instead of going ballistic, joseph "considered these things." he thought things through, didn't let his emotions get the best of him. he wrestled through his grief, his anguish, and considered what his actions would do, desiring to not cause even more suffering. may God mold my heart to be like that of joseph, a type for his adopted Son, who begged for the forgiveness of His murderers even as they were nailing him to the cross. oh, what wondrous love is this, oh my soul. God is loving and gracious, praise be to His name! amen.