Bible Stories › When God Keeps His Promises
Bible story · Luke 2:36–38
Anna
Read it yourself in the King James Bible: Luke 2:36–38 ↗
“And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”
Luke 2:38 (KJV)The Story
Simeon wasn’t the only one in the temple that day.
There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. Her story is told in just three verses, but it’s a whole life.
Anna had been married for seven years when her husband died. Then she lived as a widow until she was eighty-four years old. Some read the verse to mean she had been a widow for eighty-four years.
Either way, she spent those long years in the same place. She never left the temple. She worshiped God night and day with fasting and prayer.
And in that very moment, as Simeon was holding the baby Jesus and blessing God, Anna came up. She gave thanks to the Lord. Then she went out and told everyone who was waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem about this child.
Reflection
Anna’s life didn’t turn out the way she must have hoped. She lost her husband young and spent decades alone. She could have been bitter. Instead, she gave her long years to God.
More Bible stories from Luke. More about: Waiting on God · Grief and Loss · Women of the Bible · Christmas
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Day 24 of Book 6
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