"He (God) made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, "Let's get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt" (Exodus 14:25).

I read a news report that told of a rather brazen form of thievery. A California resident had all four wheels stolen from under his car. I also read about a car where all four wheels came off as the driver was driving on the highway. Apparently all four tires had just been changed and they had installed the wrong nuts. Amazingly, no one was hurt.

We may give little thought to wheels, but consider the significance of the invention of the wheel. It's a very useful tool of life in so many ways. Today's text references the very first mention of a wheel in the Bible.

Exodus 14 chronicles the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites as they walked across the Red Sea on dry land as God parted the waters. As they departed Egypt the Egyptians chased after them. I wonder how the rank and file chariot drivers felt when commanded to follow their leaders through the parted sea! They witnessed a mighty miracle, nevertheless Scripture declares that their hearts were hardened (v.17).

Notice the first part of the verse: "He (God) made the wheels of their chariots come off so that they had difficulty driving." (No further explanation needed here!) This is an example of God's providence over the affairs of men. Now surely the finest mechanics in Egypt had serviced those chariots for Pharaoh. These mechanics would have been highly skilled using the latest wheel building techniques and the finest materials available. But when the Almighty God of the universe ordains that wheels come off, no human invention or mechanical skill will stop them!

"Let's get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt." The Egyptians rightly recognized that the Lord was fighting for His people against their enemies. They'd already witnessed God's miraculous power in the ten plagues that preceded the Israelite's escape. Why did they think that He was going to turn His back on them at this very critical point? 

The great doctrine of providence states that God is superintending over all of His creation in every way at all times. He's got each hair on our head counted (present tense) and not a single bird falls without His knowledge. The Westminster Catechism states, "God's works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures; ordering them, and all their actions, to His own glory."

The providence of God can be a terrifying thought or one of tremendous comfort. It depends on your position in Christ. As believers we can rest in the calm assurance that God rules for our ultimate good. Today, may you find peace and assurance in this Biblical truth.

Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber