God chooses people who, by worldly standards, are weak, foolish, and lowly, so that no one can boast before Him.
God deliberately selects those who are weak or foolish in the world's eyes to confound the wise and mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27). This pattern is seen in Moses, who was stripped of Egypt's power and reduced to a lowly shepherd before God could use him. God works this way to ensure that all glory goes to Him alone, not to human strength or credentials.
1 Corinthians 1:27 — This verse directly states God's choice of the foolish and weak to confound the wise and mighty.
In 1 Corinthians 1:27, the Apostle Paul writes, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty." This reveals a divine principle: God intentionally uses what the world regards as foolish or weak to accomplish His purposes. The verse continues in 1 Corinthians 1:29, "That no flesh should glory in his presence," making clear that God's choice ensures human pride is eliminated. This pattern is also seen in the life of Moses. In Exodus 4, when God calls Moses, Moses objects that he is "slow of speech, and of a slow tongue," but God responds, "Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the LORD?" (Exodus 4:11). Scripture thus shows that God uses people who lack natural ability, and He Himself supplies what is needed.
Les Feldick teaches that God never uses those who are self-prepared or world-prepared. He points to Moses, who was second in command in Egypt, fully educated in Egyptian wisdom, yet God could not use him in that state. Instead, God sent him to the backside of the desert for 40 years to herd sheep, where he lost his polish and self-confidence. Only after Moses saw himself as a nobody—unable to speak well—could God send him back to Pharaoh. Les emphasizes that God uses the lowly and the commonplace, not the great men of the world. He cites 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 to show that God chooses the foolish and weak so that no flesh can glory in His sight. If God used people with all the right credentials, they would be prone to say, "Look what I did." Instead, God uses those who have nothing in their flesh to offer, ensuring He gets all the glory.
According to Les Feldick, Moses, as the second man in Egypt, had all the power, wisdom, and charisma, but God couldn't use him because he was self-prepared. God sent him to the backside of the desert for 40 years to herd sheep, where he lost his polish and became insecure. Only after this humbling could God say, "Moses, I want to send you back to Egypt." (Clips 0, 2, 6, 4)
Les teaches that human credentials—such as IQ, talent, wealth, education, or charisma—are actually hindrances to God's using someone. He asks why God wouldn't use someone with talent or wealth, and answers from 1 Corinthians 1:29: "That no flesh should glory in his presence." If such people were used, they would brag about what they did. So God avoids them to keep all glory for Himself. (Clip 5)
God's preparation often involves stripping away worldly advantages. Les notes that Moses had to be taken to the desert for 40 years, becoming an abomination to the Egyptians, before God could use him. Similarly, Saul of Tarsus was a big man in Judaism, so God had to bring him down to a low spot. God always takes those in high positions and brings them low before using them. (Clips 2, 6, 4)
Moses' Humbling in the Desert
God sends Moses to the desert for 40 years to remove his self-preparedness, making him insecure so God can use him.
God Doesn't Use Highly Educated People
Les shows that very few intellectual, highly polished people are used by God because He can only use what the world sees as nothing.
God Brought Moses from High to Low
God had Moses end up on the backside of the desert, illustrating that He takes those in high positions and brings them low.
God Chooses the Foolish and Weak
Les quotes 1 Corinthians 1:27-28, explaining that God uses the foolish and weak to confound the wise and mighty, as with Paul at Mars Hill.
Pomp and Circumstance Can't Be Used by God
God couldn't use Moses with Pharaoh's pomp, so He sent him to herd sheep, showing He can't use worldly prestige.
Why God Avoids Talented People
God refuses to use people with seemingly right credentials because otherwise they would glory in their own flesh, so He avoids it.
Moses Became a Nobody Before God
After 40 years herding sheep, Moses saw himself as a nobody, which was exactly where God wanted him, illustrating God's method of using the lowly.
God Uses the Commonplace
God never used the great men, wealthy, or kings; He always used common people with nothing in their flesh to offer.
1 Corinthians 1:27: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
This verse is the central scriptural basis for God's choice of the weak and foolish.
1 Corinthians 1:29: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
This explains the underlying reason for God's choice: to eliminate human boasting.
Exodus 4:10: And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.
Moses expresses his inadequacy, which God addresses.
Exodus 4:11: And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
God reminds Moses that He is the source of ability.
Les Feldick teaches that God uses the weak and foolish to ensure that no human being can glory in His sight. If He used people with credentials, they would be prone to say 'Look what I did.' Instead, He uses those with nothing in their flesh to offer, so He gets all the glory.
The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that God chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak things to confound the mighty. This shows that God deliberately overturns worldly standards.
Les Feldick explains that Moses, as the second man in Egypt, was self-prepared and full of power, which God couldn't use. God sent him to the desert for 40 years to remove his polish and self-confidence, making him feel like a nobody before He could use him.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross