拿俄米踏出行动的一步
路得记三章1至9节
1路得的婆婆拿俄米对她说：女儿啊，我不当为你找个安身之处，使你享福吗？
2你与波阿斯的使女常在一处，波阿斯不是我们的亲族吗？他今夜在场上簸大麦；
3你要沐浴抹膏，换上衣服，下到场上，却不要使那人认出你来。你等他吃喝完了，
4到他睡的时候，你看准他睡的地方，就进去掀开他脚上的被，躺卧在那里，他必告诉你所当做的事。
5路得说：凡你所吩咐的，我必遵行。
6路得就下到场上，照他婆婆所吩咐他的而行。
7波阿斯吃喝完了，心里欢畅，就去睡在麦堆旁边。路得便悄悄地来掀开他脚上的被，躺卧在那里。
8到了夜半，那人忽然惊醒，翻过身来，不料有女子躺在他的脚下。
9他就说：你是谁？回答说：我是你的婢女路得。求你用你的衣襟遮盖我，因为你是我一个至近的亲属。
信息分享
拿俄米因此尝试踏出第一步，借此向波阿斯提出暗示，希望他能履行旧约申命记二十五章5至10节和利未记二十五章25节所记的律法，娶族中兄弟的遗孀，为死去的兄弟留后，并赎回死去兄弟的产业。这个律例预表了作为我们兄长的基督，如何为我们付清了罪债，并将神预留给我们的产业赎回。
于是，路得听从婆婆的指示，沐浴抹膏，换上衣服，摸黑来到簸大麦的场上。从故事所提供的线索来看，路得显然是一个漂亮的女子。
时至深夜，波阿斯吃过庆祝丰收的筵席，便回到场上的麦堆上睡觉。路得在黑暗中看见他睡下之后，便悄悄地掀开他脚上的被子，躺卧在他的脚下。
路得一双冰冷的脚，可能是令到波阿斯在睡梦中惊醒的原因。他意识到有人，便立即坐起来，赫然发现一名女子躺卧在他的脚下。按照当时的规例，显然是不准女性参与庆祝丰收的筵席(14节)。
波阿斯看见脚下的女子竟然是路得，不由得吓了一跳。但路得立即向他解释说：「我在这里，因为你是我夫家的近亲，你可以将我赎回。」对我们现代人来说，这种安排似乎十分奇怪；然而，一切都有神的心意，而波阿斯立即心领神会。有些时候，神容让一些看似奇怪的情况发生，但只要我们是行在祂的旨意中，祂必保守我们到底。
祷告：
「主啊，求你为着你的荣耀，时刻引导我和掌管我生命中的一切。」
NAOMI'S FIRST MOVE
Ruth 3:1-9
1 Then Naomi, her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?
2 Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.
3 Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
4 Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.”
5 And she said to her, “All that you say to me I will do.”
6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law instructed her.
7 And after Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was cheerful, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came softly, uncovered his feet, and lay down.
8 Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet.
9 And he said, “Who are you?” So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”
Message
Naomi's love for Ruth comes through quite strongly in these verses. Her question in verse 1 reveals her strong desire that Ruth might be well cared for, particularly in the days to come when Naomi may have passed on.
Naomi therefore initiates the ancient process whereby the next of kin should provide for the widow of his brother or close relative. This law is set out in Deuteronomy 25:5-10 and in Leviticus 25:25. The relative was called a 'kinsman redeemer'. He is a beautiful picture of Christ our elder brother, coming to pay our debts and to redeem us for the inheritance God has for us.
It would be very interesting if we had a photograph of Ruth as she set out that evening for the threshing floor of Boaz. She had bathed, put on special perfume and her prettiest dress (v. 3). Today she would have gone to the hairdresser and had her hair set as well. From all the hints given in the story, she seems to have been a beautiful girl.
Late in the evening, after the harvest celebration dinner, Boaz went to one end of a heap of grain and lay down. Ruth quietly watched from the shadows and then crept silently to his feet and quickly slipped off the cover that was over them.
Soon those cold feet woke Boaz. He sat up and immediately sensed that someone else, a woman, was lying nearby. Apparently women were never allowed at the harvest meal (v. 14).
Boaz was startled but Ruth quickly explained: 'I am here because I am your relative and you are my redeemer'. It all sounds strange to us but God was in it all and Boaz recognised this. Sometimes God allows strange circumstances, but he will protect his own as they walk in his way.
A PRAYER:
Lord guide me today and overrule in everything in my life, for your glory.'