The Bible is full of senior figures that can inspire older adults today. A quick look at the genealogies listed in the book of Genesis shows how long some of our ancestors may have lived. But residents of Cambridge Court assisted living don't have to turn to mysterious men and women such as Methuselah for inspiration. Consider some of these older adults from the Bible and the part they played in God's miraculous plan.
No list of inspirational older women would be complete without Sarah, who gave birth to Isaac in her old age. Sarah was so surprised by God's promise to come through on this one she actually laughed in the face of his messenger. But the faithful wife of Abraham did endure and ended up becoming the mother of the line that would eventually create the 12 tribes of Israel. A line that Jesus himself was from.
Inspiration for seniors: Sarah's story inspires people of all ages to believe, truly, with God nothing is impossible. No matter what we think is normal for our age or situation in life, God's plan trumps it all.
Anna was a prophetess. The Book of Luke tells how she prophesied about Jesus. She also dedicated her entire life to studying God's word, spending much of her time in the Temple area. She was a widow for 84 years of her life, having only been married a short time before losing her husband. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple to be blessed, Anna came in praising and proclaiming over the child.
Inspiration for seniors: No matter what trials and tribulations we go through, it's important to keep our eyes on Jesus. Anna did, and she was eventually rewarded with getting to see the Messiah she was waiting for all those years in person.
This might seem like an odd addition to a post about older adults in the Bible. When we first meet Samuel, it's as a young boy. His mother has dedicated him to service in the Temple, and he first hears God calling his name.
But Samuel's journey and life is recorded throughout numerous books of the Bible. As a man, he anoints Saul as king over Israel and as an even older man, he anoints David. Most scholars believe he was nearing 60 when he died—a nice old age for that time in Biblical history, especially given the number of wars he lived through.
