The Incredible Foot

The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.” – – Leonardo da Vinci.  It is an astonishing demonstration of God’s creative design and engineering.

The entire normal body has 206 bones.  Ordinarily, feet possess 26 bones each.  The 52 bones of the two feet compose 25% of all the bones in the body.  It is exceedingly significant to the functioning of the entire body.

In addition to the bones, each foot has 33 joints, over 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments (bands that connect the bones).  The foot’s bones are grouped into phalanges (bones in your toes), metatarsals – (bones in the flat part of your foot), cuneiform bones (give your foot a solid and flexible foundation), calcaneus (the bone in your heel), and the talus (the bone of your ankle) which connects to the tibia – the main bone in your lower leg.

Twenty of the 33 joints are articulated.  They allow each section to bend or turn independently and in different directions.

One of the foot’s primary functions is to balance the body’s weight on two legs.  It keeps the foot standing firm while we move our body weight into different positions and angles.

There are four types of foot muscles: the central, lateral, and medial muscles all along the sole.  Then, there are the muscles at the top (dorsum) of the foot.

While the ligaments connect bones, the tendons connect muscles to the bones.  Utilizing this connection of muscles to bones, we can move.

The human foot is arched in a unique structure that distinguishes it from the flat feet of the apes.  Arched feet are essential for standing upright, allowing body control over the feet.  A person maintains balance by unconsciously adjusting the relative pressures on the balls and heels of the feet.  Several foot bones are wedge-shaped to form a strong arch for this to work.  Each foot part must be in place and engineered so the foot can operate effectively.  The human foot could not evolve step by step over time.  Every part had to be fully functional at the same time.  The Creator had to think ahead and plan all the attributes needed for the foot to work.

And then – – consider the skin surrounding all the bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles!  The skin around the top and bottom of our feet protects all bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles from injury and infection.  The toenails protect our toes from common injuries such as stubbing the toe, getting stepped on, or having something dropped on them.

We can assuredly agree with the Psalmist when he said, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” (Psalm 139:14).

There are many lessons about feet in the Bible.

The writer of Proverbs talked about seven things that God hated.  One of those was “feet that be swift; in running to mischief.” (Proverbs 6:18).  He also counseled, “Ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy ways be established.” (Proverbs 4:26).  As Christians, we are to think carefully about the path of life we are taking.  Get God’s direction before starting down any new trail.

We are to stand in holy awe as we seek His direction.  In Exodus 3:5, God told Moses, “Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” As we relate to a perfectly holy God, bow before Him in reverence and submission.

Jesus (the LORD and Master) taught submission and humility as he washed his disciples’ feet in John 13:4-15.  “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” (John 13:14).

Paul instructed Christians that in battling against the forces of evil, have your “feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” (Ephesians 6:15).

Finally, in urging believers to give out the gospel message, Paul wrote in Romans 10:15 (quoting Isaiah 52:7), “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Be thankful for the feet you have!  Then, use them in the way God intended them to be used.