路得遇上波阿斯
路得記二章1至7節
1拿俄米的丈夫以利米勒的親族中，有一個人名叫波阿斯，是個大財主。
2摩押女子路得對拿俄米說：容我往田間去，我蒙誰的恩，就在誰的身後拾取麥穗。拿俄米說：女兒啊，你只管去。
3路得就去了，來到田間，在收割的人身後拾取麥穗。他恰巧到了以利米勒本族的人波阿斯那塊田裡。
4波阿斯正從伯利恆來，對收割的人說：願耶和華與你們同在！他們回答說：願耶和華賜福與你！
5波阿斯問監管收割的僕人說：那是誰家的女子？
6監管收割的僕人回答說：是那摩押女子，跟隨拿俄米從摩押地回來的。
7她說：請你容我跟著收割的人拾取打捆剩下的麥穗。她從早晨直到如今，除了在屋子裡坐一會兒，常在這裡。
信息分享
伯利恆顯然有很多田地，但神卻要在路得身上成就祂的心意，於是特別帶領路得到某個田主的田地拾取麥穗，那個田主原來是拿俄米的一個有錢親戚，名叫波阿斯。
昔日神藉著摩西賜給以色列民的律法中，已設下了各種照顧孤兒寡婦的條例。人若死了，沒有兒子，他的至親便要娶他的遺孀，為他留後(申二十五5-10)。拿俄米知道波阿斯是他們的親戚，卻不知道還有另一個人與她們有更親的關係。我們不知道拿俄米為何不一早便向這位親戚求助；我們只知道一切境遇的背後都有神的心意，為的是在路得身上成就祂的計劃。
收割期間，波阿斯來到巡視田地，發現一位陌生女子正在拾麥穗。他從僕人口中得知，路得就是那個跟從拿俄米一同回鄉的摩押女子。僕人還告訴他，她是問准他們才來到田間拾穗，而且，她非常勤勉，一早便出來工作，總是不願意休息，眾人都喜歡與她交往。
一切事情都是偶然發生，還是都是出自神的安排？答案顯而易見。
同樣地，只要我們願意把一生交給神去管理，神必為我們作出最好的安排。
反思：
我是否願意對主說：「願你帶領我走合適的道路」？(創二十四48)
RUTH MEETS BOAZ
Ruth 2:1-7
1 There was a relative of Naomi’s husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech. His name was Boaz.
2 So Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor.”
And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.”
3 Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and said to the reapers, “The Lord be with you!”
And they answered him, “The Lord bless you!”
5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?”
6 So the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered and said, “It is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab.
7 And she said, ‘Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.’ So she came and has continued from morning until now, though she rested a little in the house.”
Message
The question soon arose for Naomi and Ruth, 'How are we going to live?' We saw in the previous chapter that they had arrived in Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest. Ruth said to Naomi, 'I am quite willing and strong enough to work') for both of us. I will go out and pick up ears of barley which the reapers may miss and I'll see what I can gather.' Naomi agreed for her to do this.
The Lord led Ruth to one particular field. No doubt there were many fields around Bethlehem but God had a specific plan for Ruth and her future and it was bound up with the life of Boaz, a rich relative of Naomi.
In the laws given through Moses, God had made provision for widows and fatherless children. The next of kin had to take the widow into his home and provide for her (Deuteronomy 25:5-1 0). Naomi knew Boaz was a relative but did not know there was another man even closer in relationship. We do not know why Naomi did not ask for the help of either of these men before. We can only say God allowed all these circumstances to develop so that his perfect will for Ruth could be worked out. '
During the day, the owner, Boaz, visited the reapers and immediately saw one girl who was a stranger to him. The servant in charge of the reapers told him that Ruth was a Moabitess who came to Bethlehem with Naomi. He added that she had come earlier and asked could she glean in that field. She had shown herself a good worker and everyone seemed pleased with her.
Did all this happen just by chance? Or did all those circumstances combine together under the hand of God? The answer is obvious.
In the same way, God will work out everything for our good if we will take our hands off our lives and leave our future with him.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
Can you say 'I, being in the way, the Lord led me'? Genesis 24:48.