Why Anna?

“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38 (NIV)

When Joseph and Mary took the baby Jesus to the Temple to dedicate him as it was commanded in the law, there were two people who welcome him and knew that this baby was the Messiah. The first was a man named Simeon and the other was an elderly woman named Anna.

Anna was a prophetess from the tribe of Asher. She was eighty four years old and had been a widow most of her life. Her husband had died only seven years after they had been married. Since that time she was constantly in the Temple waiting for the Lord’s Messiah. At last she saw him and went immediately to Mary and Joseph and gave thanks to God for the baby. Anyone who would listen to her would be told about this baby who had come to redeem His people.

Anna was a prophetess from the tribe of Asher. When Jacob was dying he blessed his sons and he said that Asher would be a blessing to others. Many years were to pass before the blessing would completely come from the tribe of Asher and when it did, it came from the most unlikely of people, an elderly widow. Anna made it known to everyone who would listen that this child would be their redeemer.

The tribe of Asher had a dark time in their history. When they went into the land we are told that the tribe of Asher failed to possess their rightful possession. When the prophetess Deborah was called to lead the armies of Israel against the armies of Sisera the people of Asher did not support her. We do not know why they didn’t follow Deborah with the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun but maybe it was because they did not want a woman for a leader. Many years later it was a woman who brought honour to her tribe. God used Anna to make Asher a blessing as Jacob had prophesied so many years before.

We don’t know what happened to Anna after that encounter. She may have gone back to her home satisfied that she had seen the redemption of Israel and died a contented and fulfilled woman. She may have continued to bless others by telling them about this baby who would be the redeemer of the world. Whatever happened to her does not matter. Her very brief encounter with the King of kings forever established her place in history. God can use the most unusual of people.

I thank God for the elderly widows who take time to bless others. They write letters, they give money and they pray for people. Many missionaries would have to come home from the mission field if it wasn’t for the Annas of this world. May their tribe increase.