Like Mary, Joseph was also in a very difficult situation. He was not yet aware of the divine origin of Mary’s pregnancy. Because unmarried young men and women were seldom allowed to be together and never allowed to be alone, Joseph would not have known at that point the depth of Mary’s faith and devotion to God.

And since she had not reported being raped, the only conclusion he could possibly draw was that Mary had been unfaithful and committed adultery. Joseph was well aware that everyone would assume that he was the one who had made her pregnant. This would be a shameful stain on his reputation—one that would never go away. As long as he lived, everyone in the small town of Nazareth would regard him as a morally compromised man.

The law required divorce under these circumstances, and this would preserve his reputation.

Joseph was faithful to the law—a devout and righteous servant of God and a man of mercy and grace. Though he was no doubt heartbroken, he did not want to take revenge or hurt Mary. Rather than vindicating himself to preserve his reputation at Mary’s expense, he rejected public exposure and planned to divorce her with as little notoriety as possible.

How do we react when someone disappoints, fails, or betrays us? Joseph’s commitment to godly, righteous living, full of mercy and grace, gives us a model to follow.