路得遇上波阿斯
路得记二章1至7节
1拿俄米的丈夫以利米勒的亲族中，有一个人名叫波阿斯，是个大财主。
2摩押女子路得对拿俄米说：容我往田间去，我蒙谁的恩，就在谁的身后拾取麦穗。拿俄米说：女儿啊，你只管去。
3路得就去了，来到田间，在收割的人身后拾取麦穗。他恰巧到了以利米勒本族的人波阿斯那块田里。
4波阿斯正从伯利恒来，对收割的人说：愿耶和华与你们同在！他们回答说：愿耶和华赐福与你！
5波阿斯问监管收割的仆人说：那是谁家的女子？
6监管收割的仆人回答说：是那摩押女子，跟随拿俄米从摩押地回来的。
7她说：请你容我跟着收割的人拾取打捆剩下的麦穗。她从早晨直到如今，除了在屋子里坐一会儿，常在这里。
信息分享
伯利恒显然有很多田地，但神却要在路得身上成就祂的心意，于是特别带领路得到某个田主的田地拾取麦穗，那个田主原来是拿俄米的一个有钱亲戚，名叫波阿斯。
昔日神借着摩西赐给以色列民的律法中，已设下了各种照顾孤儿寡妇的条例。人若死了，没有儿子，他的至亲便要娶他的遗孀，为他留后(申二十五5-10)。拿俄米知道波阿斯是他们的亲戚，却不知道还有另一个人与她们有更亲的关系。我们不知道拿俄米为何不一早便向这位亲戚求助；我们只知道一切境遇的背后都有神的心意，为的是在路得身上成就祂的计划。
收割期间，波阿斯来到巡视田地，发现一位陌生女子正在拾麦穗。他从仆人口中得知，路得就是那个跟从拿俄米一同回乡的摩押女子。仆人还告诉他，她是问准他们才来到田间拾穗，而且，她非常勤勉，一早便出来工作，总是不愿意休息，众人都喜欢与她交往。
一切事情都是偶然发生，还是都是出自神的安排？答案显而易见。
同样地，只要我们愿意把一生交给神去管理，神必为我们作出最好的安排。
反思：
我是否愿意对主说：「愿你带领我走合适的道路」？(创二十四48)
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.