It’s the “Little Things”

Continuing with our look at Joseph, let’s read Matthew 1:20-21:  20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Notice that the angel referred to Joseph as “son of David”.  Now, Joseph’s father’s name was not David.  His father’s name was Jacob; according to verse 16 of Matthew chapter 1.  So why did the angel refer to Joseph as the “son of David”?   Well, according to Matthew chapter 1, Joseph was in the genealogy of king David.  I don’t know how much Joseph ever thought about that.  David lived more than 900 years before the angel came to Joseph.  But the fact that Joseph came from David was very important because Old Testament prophecy had announced that the Messiah would come from the line of David.  This little phrase seems like such a little thing, an almost incidental thing; but I believe it was very important.  Perhaps those words, “son of David” brought Joseph’s mind back to the messianic prophecies and his possible involvement in the fulfillment of those prophecies. Joseph would have known that he was a candidate to be the “adoptive” father of the Messiah.

Isn’t it true that it is often the little things that make such a difference?  As you and I are reading God’s word or as we are praying, may we keep our minds open to the little things that God sends our way to enrich our lives, to correct us, or to encourage us to be involved in the lives of others.  Let’s not forget the little things.