Nothing about you qualifies you—God uses those who recognize they are nothing in themselves.
God deliberately passes over the world's credentialed, powerful, and talented people, because no flesh is to glory in His presence. The requirement is humility: a person must come to the end of self-confidence and let God work through them. As Les Feldick shows from Moses and 1 Corinthians 1, God uses 'nobodies' so that the power is unmistakably from Him.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 — This verse plainly describes what God looks for: the foolish, weak, base, and despised things, with the explicit reason that no flesh may glory before Him.
Exodus 4:10-12 — Moses' objection about his speech and God's response show that human inability is not a barrier when God Himself supplies the words.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29: '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; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.' The Bible's reason is explicit: God selects what the world counts as nothing so that no human being can boast before Him. Earlier, at the burning bush, Moses told God, 'I am not eloquent... but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.' The LORD answered, 'Who hath made man's mouth?... Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say' (Exodus 4:10-12). Scripture also states in 2 Corinthians 4:7 that the treasure is held 'in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.'
Les Feldick explains that God will not use people who appear to have all the right credentials, because when they succeed they would say, 'Look what I did.' He repeatedly points to 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 as the reason: God uses the things that are not to confound the things that are, so that no flesh can glory in His sight. Les says, 'It's not because I'm somebody, it's because I'm a nobody, and that's where it has to be.' Moses is his prime example. When Moses was second in command of Egypt—with all the power, authority, and education—God could not use him. God had to take him to the wilderness until he was a nobody. From then on God could show His power through Moses. The same principle applies to every believer: God cannot work with a person who says, 'I'm pretty good.' A person must first recognize he is ungodly and helpless. Even the ability to serve God is something God Himself gives, and spiritual gifts are assigned by the Holy Spirit as He wills, not chosen by us.
Les says one verse gives it all: 'That no flesh should glory in God's presence.' If God used someone with a tremendous IQ, wealth, or all the talent in the world, that person would be prone to say, 'Look what I did.' God won't have it. He uses the things the world is not even aware of—those who have nothing in the way of credentials—to confound the high and mighty.
Les points out that Moses had become second man in Egypt, the greatest nation of the then-known world. He had power and authority over armies, road building, and bridges, and he thought he could lead Israel out. Instead, God sent him to the wilderness. It was only after Moses admitted, 'I am not eloquent... I am slow of speech,' and after he came to see himself as nothing, that God said, 'Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth.' God's servants are not made by human credentials; they are made by being emptied of self.
Believers must first recognize they are ungodly and that God can do nothing with a person who says, 'I'm pretty good.' Every ability to serve is given by God, just as He gave wisdom and understanding to Bezalel and Oholiab for the sanctuary work. The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He wills; believers are not to beg for a particular gift but to serve where God has placed them, even in unseen roles like prayer.
Moses' Confession of Inability
Les highlights Moses' admission that he is not eloquent and God's reply that He made the mouth and will be with Moses' speech—showing that God's call does not depend on human eloquence.
Why God Passes Over the Talented
Les explains why God passes over people with talent and IQ: they would take credit and say 'Look what I did,' so God refuses to use them.
God Uses Nobodies
Les uses 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 and 2 Corinthians 4:7 to say the excellency of the power must be of God, not us; he calls himself 'a nobody' as the only place God can use him.
Admitting You Are Ungodly
Les teaches God can only deal with a person who recognizes he is ungodly—if someone says 'I'm pretty good,' God's hands are tied.
Moses' Wilderness Preparation
Les says God can only use that which the world counts as nothing, and uses Moses as the prime example: after being second in Egypt, God sent him to the wilderness.
Things Which Are Not
Les explains 'things which are not' means those with no credentials in the world's eyes; God uses them to confound the high and mighty.
God Gives the Ability
Les shows from Exodus 36 that God is the one who gives believers wisdom, understanding, and ability to perform their service.
Holy Spirit Distributes Gifts
Les teaches the Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts as He wills; believers are not to beg for a gift but to serve where God places them, even in hidden ways like prayer.
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 demonstrates that God deliberately uses the foolish and weak to accomplish His purposes, contrary to human expectations.
1 Corinthians 1:28: And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
God selects the world's 'nothings' to nullify the world's 'somethings,' showing His power is not dependent on human status.
1 Corinthians 1:29: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
This is the central reason God chooses the weak and foolish—so no human being can boast before Him.
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 protests his lack of eloquence, showing his awareness of his own inadequacy.
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 the one who created human abilities can supply whatever is needed.
Exodus 4:12: Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.
God promises to be with Moses' mouth, showing that divine enablement follows human humility.
2 Corinthians 4:7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
God deliberately places His treasure in weak, earthen vessels so the surpassing power is recognized as God's, not ours.
God chooses the weak and foolish so that no flesh can glory in His presence. Les Feldick teaches that if God used people with all the right credentials, they would be prone to say 'Look what I did.' Instead, God uses 'nobodies' so the power is clearly from God.
God is not limited by education or talent, but He will not use people who trust in those things. The key is humility—recognizing that whatever ability you have is given by God. Les says God can only use that which the world counts as nothing, so a person must see themselves as nothing in themselves.
Feeling unqualified is actually the starting point God can use. Moses said he was not eloquent, but God replied that He made the mouth and would be with him. Les points out that every believer has a unique ability to serve, and the Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He wills—not according to human qualifications.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross