Charles Spurgeon Commentary Deuteronomy 8:4

"Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years." — Deuteronomy 8:4 (ASV)

Your raiment waxed not old upon you, neither did your foot swell, these forty years.

What a wonderful experience the Israelites had in the wilderness! They were always fed, though in a waste howling wilderness, dry and barren. They always had water following them from that stream which flowed out of the flinty rock, from which you might more readily have expected to strike fire than to obtain water.

And as for their garments, they did not wear out. They had no shops to go to, and they were unable to make new clothes in the wilderness because of their frequent moving to and fro; yet they were always clad. And, though they were a host of weary pilgrims, marching back and forth for forty years, their feet still did not swell. Oh, what a mercy that was! He keeps the feet of his saints.

Has it not been so with you also, dear friends? You have said, "What shall I do if I live so long, and if I have to bear so many troubles, and make so many marches through the very valley of the shadow of death?" What will you do? Why, you will do as you have done! Trust in God, and go on. You shall be fed, and you shall be upheld even to the end.

Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.

See how God not only cares for His people's food, but for their raiment also. We may, therefore, well heed Paul's instruction: Having food and raiment let us be therewith content. Whether it was by a miracle that the Israelites' raiment did not wear out, or whether it happened, in the order of providence, that they were able to get fresh clothing when it did wear out, does not matter at all; it made no difference to them how it was arranged, for it was equal kindness on God's part who provided for them.

Neither did thy foot swell. We call the Arab, sometimes, "The pilgrim of the weary foot;" but the Israelites' feet were not weary. They traversed a stony wilderness, yet God kept them in such health and strength that their feet did not swell even after forty years of journeying. You and I often get worn out in forty hours; forty days are as long as we can hope to go; but God enabled His ancient people to go on for forty years, and still their feet did not swell. Dr. Watts sweetly sang:

"Mere mortal power shall fade and die,
And youthful vigor cease;
But we that wait upon the Lord Shall feel our strength increase.
The saints shall mount on eagles' wings,
And taste the promised bliss,
Till their unwearied feet arrive Where perfect pleasure is."