In early Mediterranean cultures certain laws were inflexible. To the ancient Hebrew, betrothal was a binding contract; and if a bride-to-be was found illegally with child, she was subject to death by stoning.
In a New Testament account of the events prior to Jesus' birth, we learn that Joseph, a kind man, pondered how to put Mary away without dire punishment. An angel message came: "Fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."Matt. 1:20. Joseph not only took Mary as his wife but later, under continuing divine guidance, took her and her child, Jesus, to Egypt to find safety from a murderous Herod.
What perfect, God-directed husbanding this was, marking indelibly the beginning of the human life of our Master, Christ Jesus. Later he was to say, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."John 15:1.
