Recently, I read about a woman who was a very successful matchmaker. You might not recognize her name, but you’d probably recognize the couple she matched. I’m positive you’d recognize the couple’s great-grandson who later became a very famous world leader.
The matchmaker had a good life until a severe economic downturn hit her country. Food was even scarce. She and her husband and two children did what they had to do to survive and moved to a neighboring country. It wasn’t easy living so far from friends they’d left behind, but they made it.
Actually, they didn’t all make it. The woman’s husband died. Then tragically, her children died, both boys.
Not long after this, word came from home that conditions had improved, so the matchmaker decided to return. There was certainly nothing left for her where she was. Surprisingly, a younger woman who’d been married to one of her sons, asked to go with her. At first, the matchmaker resisted the idea, but finally agreed.
As you can imagine, the matchmaker was angry, cynical and bitter. Life had dealt her a hard blow. She was most likely suffering from depression. Whereas she once had a full life, it was now lonely and empty. She had no husband or children and had very little, if anything, to look forward to.
Some time later, the young woman went to work, so she could feed herself and the matchmaker. After work one day, she told the matchmaker about a man she’d met. He sounded like the perfect husband, so the matchmaker went to work.
First, she told the young woman to put on some nice clothes and perfume. Then she instructed her to get close to the guy after he’d had a little to drink and was feeling good and, here’s where it got interesting, she tells the young woman to propose to him.
The best part, well, not really the best part, that came much later, is that the plan worked. The guy went for it and they got married. The old matchmaker really knew her stuff.
You probably know by now (I guess you could say “the rest of the story”) the matchmaker’s name was Naomi. The young woman was Ruth and her husband was Boaz. Their great-grandson was, of course, King David through whom Jesus Christ was descended hundreds of years later. The whole story is found in the book of Ruth.
I love this story. It’s probably my favorite Old Testament book. If I’d been asked though, I probably would have named it “Naomi.” I can identify with her. No, I haven’t lost a spouse or children, but like her, I’ve experienced difficulties, disappointments, discouragement and even depression. Haven’t we all to one degree or another?
Life rarely turns out like we think it will. There are always twists and turns we couldn’t see coming. There are failures we thought would be successes. We took the road that looked like it led to life only to find out it led to death.
I find encouragement in Naomi’s life though. In the midst of a famine, a move to a foreign country and the death of her husband and two children–she could not see how all of this was working together in God’s divine plan, but it was all fitting together. Her pain was not random or wasted.
Naomi had to experience what she did, so she could bring Ruth back to marry Boaz and so one day the Savior of the world could descend from them.
Like Naomi, you and I don’t get to see the “why?” behind our painful or difficult circumstances. Naomi did get to see Obed born, but she never saw the full picture. She never knew God used her to play matchmaker so the Savior of the world could come.
Whatever you’re facing today, believe God. Trust Him even though nothing is making sense and you can’t see past the pain and confusion right in front of you. God is still good. He still loves you. He is still faithful.
Remember Naomi. Remember that God has been working throughout history to redeem a lost world. Remember that you have a part in that plan even though you can’t see it.