God typically chooses the lowly, weak, and foolish by the world's standards — those who are nothing in their own eyes — rather than the wise, mighty, or noble.
Scripture says almost none of the wise, mighty, or noble are called; instead God has chosen the foolish and weak things of the world to confound the wise and mighty (1 Corinthians 1:26–27). Les Feldick illustrates this with Moses, who could not be used as Egypt's second most powerful man and had to be brought to the back side of the desert as a lowly shepherd for forty years before God could send him to Pharaoh. The goal is that no flesh should glory in God's presence.
1 Corinthians 1:26–27 — Paul explicitly says not many wise, mighty, or noble are called, and that God has chosen the foolish and weak things of the world — the foundational text for Les's teaching.
1 Corinthians 1:29 — Gives the reason for God's choosing pattern: no flesh should glory in His presence.
The Apostle Paul describes God's calling plainly: 'For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called' (1 Corinthians 1:26). The following verse reveals what God has deliberately chosen instead: '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' (1 Corinthians 1:27). Scripture also states the reason for this pattern: 'That no flesh should glory in his presence' (1 Corinthians 1:29).
Les Feldick teaches that God does not use intellectually impressive, highly educated, or polished people to proclaim the Gospel; God can only use that which the world counts as nothing. He points to Moses as the prime example. Moses had become the second man in Egypt, with all the power and authority of Pharaoh's court behind him, yet when he tried to deliver Israel in the energy of the flesh, God could not use him. God sovereignly put Moses on the back side of the desert for forty years as a lowly shepherd — a place of abomination in Egyptian eyes — where he had almost no contact with people of stature. By the end, Moses was a nobody in his own eyes but everything in God's eyes, and only then could God say, 'Moses, go to Pharaoh.' Les applies the same principle to service today: whether a Sunday school teacher, a missionary, or anything else in God's service, a person must first come to understand that in themselves they are nothing and can bring nothing of this world's education or talents. God will not use people with seemingly all the right credentials, because no human being will ever glory or brag in God's sight — if a gifted man succeeded, he would be prone to say, 'Look what I did.' Les also points to a format that runs all through Scripture: first the natural and then the spiritual.
Les asks why God should not use someone with all the talent in the world, a tremendous IQ, or a background of wealth — even millions or billions to send them on their way. The answer, he says, is that no flesh, no human being, will ever glory or brag in God's sight; God won't have it. If people with the right credentials succeeded, they would be prone to say, 'Look what I did.' That is why God did not use Moses when he was the second man in Egypt.
Les teaches that God, by a sovereign act, got Moses to the last place anyone would have sent him: the back side of the desert, herding sheep for forty years. In Egyptian eyes, sheep were an abomination, and Moses had almost no contact with the public or people of stature; he probably lost his skills of communication. In his own eyes he became nothing — but in God's eyes he became everything. Out of that place of being a nobody, God could then say, 'Moses, go to Pharaoh.'
Les applies the lesson directly: 'That's the requirement for service even today.' Whether someone wants to be a Sunday school teacher, a missionary, or anything in God's service, the first place everyone must come to is the understanding that in ourselves we are nothing. We can bring nothing of this world's education and nothing of this world's talents.
In the context of Israel rejecting God as their King and asking for a king, Les introduces Saul as their first king and then reminds his listeners that all through Scripture there is a format that is never abridged: first the natural and then the spiritual.
Saul of Tarsus Meets Jesus
Les describes Saul of Tarsus's encounter with the risen Lord — Saul, who thought he was hating and stamping out Jesus, realized that Jesus is the same Jehovah he worshipped, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God Uses What the World Counts as Nothing
Les states that God does not use intellectual, highly educated, or polished people to proclaim the Gospel; He can only use what the world counts as nothing, introducing Moses as the prime example.
Not Many Wise, Mighty, or Noble Are Called
Les quotes 1 Corinthians 1:26–27, showing that not many wise, mighty, or noble are called, and that God has chosen the foolish and weak things of the world — exactly what God did with Moses.
Moses Becomes a Nobody in the Desert
Les shows that after forty years as a sheepherder in the wilderness, Moses was nothing in his own eyes but everything in God's eyes — and that this is the requirement for service even today.
First the Natural, Then the Spiritual
In the account of Israel rejecting God and choosing Saul as their first king, Les points out the scriptural format that is never abridged: first the natural and then the spiritual.
No Flesh Will Glory in God's Sight
Les explains that God will not use people with seemingly all the right credentials, because no human being will ever glory or brag in God's sight — otherwise they would say 'Look what I did.'
God Can't Use the Pomp of This World
Les repeats the Moses pattern: when Moses had the pomp and circumstance of Pharaoh behind him, God couldn't use him, but after he became a lowly desert shepherd, God could send him back to Egypt.
From Lofty Position to Lowly Shepherd
Les emphasizes that God had to take Moses from his lofty position and bring him down to a smelly sheepherder — a place of abomination to Egyptians — and out of that place of being a nobody, God said 'Go to Pharaoh.'
1 Corinthians 1:26: For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
Paul states plainly that few of the wise, mighty, or noble are called — the foundation of God's choosing pattern.
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;
Scripture explicitly says God has chosen the foolish and weak things of the world — the very point Les applies to Moses.
1 Corinthians 1:29: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Explains why God passes over the impressive and powerful: so that no one can boast in His presence.
Les Feldick says that very few intellectual, highly educated, or polished people are used to proclaim the Gospel — if any. God can only use what the world counts as nothing, and He will not use people with seemingly all the right credentials because then they would glory in themselves and say, 'Look what I did.'
When Moses was the second man in Egypt, he tried to deliver Israel in the energy of the flesh, and God could not use him. God sovereignly sent him to the back side of the desert to herd sheep for forty years, so that he would become nothing in his own eyes — and only then was he ready for God to say, 'Go to Pharaoh.'
Les teaches that whether you want to be a Sunday school teacher, a missionary, or anything else in God's service, you must first come to understand that in yourself you are nothing. You can bring nothing of this world's education or talents into God's service.
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