The Messiah Anna Longed For

Learning the Name of His Son

Proverbs 30: 2-4 I am more stupid than any other man,
and I lack man’s ability to understand.
I have not gained wisdom,
and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered the wind in His hands?
Who has bound up the waters in a cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name,
and what is the name of His Son—
if you know? (HCSB)

 

OK, this isn’t Isaiah. I stepped backwards because I realized that the listing of Messianic prophecies I was using skipped this one.

Like Job, the words of Agur have roots outside of the Hebrew culture. Yet, they made it into the Bible and were likely compiled by the servants of King Hezekiah. Why?

Like Psalm 119, Agur focuses on the supremacy of God’s word. Like the book of Job, Agur asks questions about power, glory, beauty, strength and grace that can only be answered with one word. God. God does all these things and makes all things possible.

According to my archaeological Bible and summary of Bible persons, Agur was a non-Israelite man who was given this oracle by divine inspiration. It is assumed from his name and heritage, as well as to some obscure Hebrew words that could be translated multiple ways, that he was from the nomads of Massa—a region between Israel and Babylon.

It is because of his Gentile heritage, and the region of the world that he came from, which makes me think not only of Job, but of the Magi.

I do not know if Anna still lived when the Magi came through. It is possible, though. And since they came to Jerusalem seeking the King of the Jews, Anna would have heard about them.

Perhaps, in addition to the prophecies of Daniel which spurred their search, the Magi had read the prophecy of Agur. And they might have asked, “What is the name of His Son? Who is the Holy One born to us?”

Anna would have answered, “I know. I met him and held him. He is Jesus.”

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