Insight into the truth is a gift from God to guide us on our journey. Psalm 25:5Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. [1] Have you ever gone through a time in your life when you were seeking God’s truth? Perhaps you are experiencing that right now or have in the past.
A friend was unsure about Christianity and was praying to the Lord, searching for the truth about who Jesus is. To his surprise, God revealed Himself to him in a supernatural way, exposing the truth he was so desperately seeking. I believe that when we pray and seek the truth about God or a situation, the Lord will guide us. James tells us the Lord will not turn us away when we seek His wisdom. James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.[2]
Joseph was in a quandary when he discovered Mary, his fiancée, was pregnant. What should he do? Matthew 1:19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace Mary publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. [3]
God Revealed Truth to Joseph
Did Mary share with Joseph that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and she had always been faithful? The text doesn’t specify, but it does reveal that Joseph had decided not to marry Mary. As Joseph went to sleep, the text indicates that he was thinking about what he would do considering Mary’s pregnancy.
God can communicate with us in many ways, but in Joseph’s life, the Lord often used dreams to speak. It was in a dream that God revealed the truth about Mary’s pregnancy. Matthew 1:20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “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.” [4]
God, in His mercy, revealed the truth about Mary’s pregnancy to Joseph in a dream. It must have seemed implausible, yet it was the truth. God had a plan for both Joseph and Mary. They would raise Jesus the Messiah.
The Spirit of Truth
In a world that seems upside down, there is nothing wrong with going to the Lord to seek truth in a situation or clarity in God’s word. When I was dating my wife, the Lord gave me clarity that she was the person He wanted me to marry.
Sometimes I think we believe God is too busy to provide insight into the truth of different situations, but that is not true. God often reminds us that there are more options available to us than we might think. Even when Joseph was about to do what seemed right by breaking the engagement, God guided him to make the best choice through a dream.
It’s a good reminder for us to always turn to God for insight into truth, especially when our decisions affect those around us. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gift-of-dreams
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.