Faithful Obedience: Lessons from Joseph's Silent Example

Summary

On this special Father’s Day, we reflect on the hidden places of our lives—those spaces “where only God sees.” Just as we considered the faith of Moses’ mother on Mother’s Day, today we turn our attention to Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. Joseph is a figure who, though not the main character in the story and without a single recorded word in Scripture, leaves us a profound legacy through his actions. His life is a testament to the power and necessity of obedience, especially in the unseen and difficult moments.

Joseph’s story, found in Matthew chapters 1 and 2, is marked by a series of divine interruptions. Each time God spoke to him—whether through an angelic dream or a sudden call to uproot his family—Joseph responded without hesitation. He obeyed immediately, even when the path was unclear, uncomfortable, or costly. His obedience was not just public, but deeply personal, forged in those private moments of wrestling with God’s will.

This obedience was not easy. Joseph faced situations that would have been overwhelming for anyone: the scandal of Mary’s pregnancy, the danger from Herod, the uncertainty of fleeing to Egypt, and the repeated calls to leave everything behind. Yet, in each instance, Joseph chose to trust God’s voice over his own understanding, over cultural expectations, and over the fear that surely pressed in on every side.

Joseph’s example teaches us that true obedience often means surrendering our own plans, our sense of what is right, and even our comfort. It means being willing to follow God’s leading, even when it contradicts what we or others expect. Obedience, as modeled by Joseph, is not about ease or recognition, but about faithfulness in the quiet, hidden places of our lives.

Ultimately, Joseph’s obedience did not make his life easier, but it did open the door for God to do great things through him. In the same way, when we say “yes” to God—without hesitation, without needing all the answers—we position ourselves for God to work powerfully in and through us, even if the road is hard. May we, like Joseph, be found faithful in those places where only God sees.

Key Takeaways

- Obedience is forged in the hidden places. Joseph’s most significant acts of obedience happened in private, in moments of wrestling with God’s will where no one else could see. It is in these unseen spaces that our character is shaped and our faith is tested. True obedience is not about public recognition, but about faithfulness when only God is watching. [27:35]

- Obedience often requires immediate action, even when it’s hard. Joseph responded to God’s commands without hesitation, even when it meant upending his life, facing uncertainty, or enduring hardship. The call to obey God will often challenge our comfort and demand sacrifice, but it is in these moments that our trust in God is most clearly demonstrated. [30:27]

- Obedience to God sometimes means going against what seems right or what culture expects. Joseph was prepared to follow the law and cultural norms, but when God’s direction contradicted those expectations, he chose God’s voice over all others. There will be times when following God means setting aside our own understanding or the approval of others in order to be truly faithful. [36:06]

- Obedience is the antidote to fear. The angel’s words to Joseph—“Do not fear”—remind us that fear can keep us trapped in comfort and predictability, but obedience calls us to step forward into God’s purposes. Moving forward in obedience does not guarantee an easier life, but it does open us to God’s greater plans and the possibility of transformation. [42:16]

- God does great things through simple, faithful obedience, even when the outcome is uncertain. Joseph’s willingness to say “yes” to God, without knowing all the details or guarantees, allowed him to play a crucial role in God’s redemptive story. Our own obedience, though it may seem small or hidden, can become the channel through which God accomplishes extraordinary things. [44:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:50] - Introduction to “Where Only God Sees”
[17:34] - Joseph: The Silent Example
[18:37] - Joseph’s Encounters with God
[21:27] - Jesus’ Humanity and Learning Obedience
[22:45] - Jesus’ Obedience Modeled
[24:28] - Joseph’s Role in Jesus’ Life
[25:27] - God’s Choice of Joseph
[26:12] - Joseph’s Private Obedience
[27:35] - Wrestling with God in Secret
[29:03] - The Hardness of Obedience
[30:27] - Joseph’s Immediate Response
[33:45] - Obedience to God Over Culture
[36:06] - When God’s Will Contradicts Expectations
[38:08] - Obedience Drives Out Fear
[42:16] - Moving Forward Despite Fear
[44:00] - Trusting God for Great Things

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Where Only God Sees – The Obedience of Joseph

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### Bible Reading

- Matthew 1:18–25 (Joseph’s first dream and obedience)
- Matthew 2:13–23 (Joseph’s dreams and obedience in fleeing to Egypt and returning)
- Hebrews 5:8 (“Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.”)

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### Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 1:18–25, what specific instructions did the angel give Joseph in his dream, and how did Joseph respond?
2. According to Matthew 2:13–23, what were the different situations where Joseph received direction from God, and what actions did he take each time?
3. The sermon points out that Joseph never speaks a word in Scripture, but his actions are recorded. What are some of the actions Joseph took that show his obedience? [[17:34]]
4. Hebrews 5:8 says Jesus “learned obedience through what he suffered.” How does this verse connect to Joseph’s example as a father?

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon describes Joseph’s obedience as happening “in the hidden places, where only God sees.” Why might obedience in private be more challenging than obedience in public? [[27:35]]
2. Joseph was prepared to follow the law and cultural expectations, but chose God’s direction instead. What does this teach about the difference between doing what is “right” by human standards and what is right by God’s standards? [[36:06]]
3. The angel told Joseph, “Do not fear.” How does fear sometimes keep people from obeying God, and how did Joseph’s story show a different response? [[38:08]]
4. The sermon says Joseph’s obedience did not make his life easier, but it allowed God to do great things through him. What does this suggest about the relationship between obedience and comfort? [[44:00]]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon highlights that Joseph obeyed God immediately, even when it was hard or costly. Is there an area in your life right now where you sense God asking you to obey, but you are hesitating? What is holding you back? [[30:27]]
2. Joseph’s most important acts of obedience happened in private, not in front of others. Are there “hidden places” in your life where you struggle to be faithful when no one else is watching? What would it look like to invite God into those places? [[27:35]]
3. Joseph had to go against what culture and even his own sense of right and wrong told him, in order to follow God. Have you ever felt God leading you to do something that didn’t make sense to others or went against expectations? How did you respond? [[36:06]]
4. The angel’s words, “Do not fear,” were crucial for Joseph. What fears keep you from saying “yes” to God? How can you take a step forward in faith this week, even if you are afraid? [[38:08]]
5. The sermon says obedience is not about ease or recognition, but about faithfulness. Are there ways you have been seeking recognition for your faith, rather than simply being faithful where only God sees? How can you shift your focus? [[27:35]]
6. Joseph’s obedience opened the door for God to do great things, even though the outcome was uncertain. Is there a situation in your life where you need to trust God with the outcome, even if you don’t have all the answers? What would it look like to surrender that to God? [[44:00]]
7. The sermon mentions that even following the Bible’s clear instructions can be hard because of pressure from the world or our own desires. What is one specific command from Scripture you find difficult to obey, and what is one step you can take this week to practice obedience in that area? [[33:02]]

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Devotional

Day 1: Obedience Even When It's Hard
Joseph’s life shows us that true obedience to God often requires us to follow Him through difficult, uncomfortable, and even costly circumstances. He was asked to marry Mary despite the scandal, to travel to Bethlehem at an inconvenient time, to flee to Egypt with his family, and then to uproot again and return to Israel—all without hesitation or complaint. Each time God spoke, Joseph responded with immediate action, even when the path was uncertain and the cost was high. His example reminds us that obedience is not about convenience or ease, but about trusting God enough to say “yes” even when it’s hard. [30:27]

Matthew 1:20-25 (ESV)
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Reflection: What is one difficult step of obedience God is asking of you right now, and what would it look like to say “yes” today, even if it costs you comfort or certainty?



Day 2: Obedience to God Over Culture
Joseph was a man who followed the law and did what was expected of him, but when God’s command conflicted with cultural norms and his own understanding of what was right, he chose to obey God instead. He was prepared to quietly divorce Mary to uphold righteousness, but when God spoke, Joseph set aside his own plans and the expectations of others to follow the Lord’s direction. This teaches us that true obedience sometimes means going against what is familiar, expected, or even logical in the eyes of the world, in order to follow God’s higher calling. [37:02]

Matthew 1:18-21 (ESV)
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 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, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Reflection: Is there an area where God’s Word is calling you to act differently than what your culture, family, or friends expect—will you choose to obey God even if it means standing alone?



Day 3: Obedience Drives Out Fear
When God called Joseph to take Mary as his wife, the first words were “do not fear.” Obedience to God’s voice led Joseph out of the grip of fear—fear of shame, fear of what others would say, fear of the unknown—and into the center of God’s plan. In the same way, when Peter was called by Jesus, he was told, “do not be afraid.” Obedience doesn’t guarantee an easy life, but it does move us beyond the paralysis of fear and into the adventure of God’s purposes, where He can do great things through us. [40:55]

Luke 5:8-11 (ESV)
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

Reflection: What fear is holding you back from obeying God’s call, and how might taking a step of obedience today help you move forward in faith?



Day 4: Jesus Learned Obedience Through Suffering
Jesus, though fully God, chose to experience humanity in its fullness—including suffering and hardship—so that He could truly walk in our shoes. Scripture tells us that “he learned obedience through what he suffered,” not because He was disobedient, but because He experienced the cost and reality of obedience in a broken world. This means that Jesus understands our struggles and is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, having walked the path of obedience Himself. [22:45]

Hebrews 5:8 (ESV)
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.

Reflection: In what area of your life are you experiencing hardship or suffering, and how might you invite Jesus to walk with you and teach you obedience through it?



Day 5: God Does Great Things Through Simple Obedience
Joseph’s story shows that God often chooses ordinary, quiet acts of obedience to accomplish extraordinary things. Joseph never spoke a recorded word in Scripture, but his willingness to say “yes” to God in the hidden places changed the course of history. When we trust God enough to obey Him, even when no one else sees, we open the door for Him to do amazing things through our lives—things we may never fully understand this side of heaven. [44:00]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Reflection: What is one small, unseen act of obedience you can offer to God today, trusting that He can use it for something far greater than you imagine?

Quotes

But here's what I love about Joseph. Three times he's told, Joseph, this is what you need to do. And the very next verse, what do we hear? And Joseph did it. And Joseph did it. There's no hesitation on his part. We don't have any recorded words from Joseph to say, Lord, are you sure? Lord, I don't like that. We don't have anything like that. All we know is he's told to do it. And the next word, the next verse, he did it. That's obedience. That's obedience. No hesitation whatsoever. [00:30:39] (32 seconds) Edit Clip

Just following the Bible alone is difficult. We might not know exactly what God wants us to do individually, but we know what He wants us to do through the Bible, and that alone is hard enough. We have a world that tells us to do everything opposite of what the Bible wants us to do. We have a flesh that wants us to do its own thing besides what God wants us to do. Everything that we're supposed to be obedient to with the Lord, there's always something that says, no, do it another way. Being obedient in general is hard, but what we learn is from Joseph, be obedient even when it's hard. [00:32:41] (37 seconds) Edit Clip

Be obedient. Just obey. No hesitations. We're not looking for excuses. We're not looking for times to put it off. We're not looking to feel our time, even with good things, fill our time with this, so we don't have to do that over there. We need to be like Joseph and just be obedient to the Lord immediately. [00:33:26] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

There's areas in our life where we think that we know what the right thing is. We know this is the way it's supposed to be. This is the right thing to do. So, this is what I'm going to do. And then all of a sudden, God shows up and says, do this instead. Can we be obedient enough to put aside what we thought was right to be obedient to him? [00:36:18] (23 seconds) Edit Clip

``If we're willing to be obedient to the Lord, no matter what we think is right, or no matter what the culture thinks is right, or no matter what others say or do or think, if we're willing to still be obedient to the Lord in the face of all of that, God will do amazing things. He'll do amazing things. [00:37:41] (18 seconds) Edit Clip

Joseph's story shows us that when we're obedient to the Lord, there's a very good chance our life's about to get harder. Sorry, that's not really an amen part, but that's life right there. But Joseph also teaches us, if we're obedient, we can do what he's called us to do with his help, and God will do great things through it. Great things through it. [00:38:00] (25 seconds) Edit Clip

And so my prayer this morning is this, that we can take Jesus' earthly father, Joseph's example, and just be obedient. And just say yes. No hesitation. We don't have to know all the answers. We don't have to know all the ins and outs of it. Lord, I don't know. Lord, I just want to be obedient to you. And then trust him to do amazing things through you. [00:43:47] (24 seconds) Edit Clip