God used Moses' 40 years in the desert to break his self-confidence and force him to rely on God instead of the wisdom and power he had learned in Egypt.
At age 40, Moses tried to deliver Israel using his Egyptian position, power, and education, but Israel rejected him because, as Les Feldick says, God was not in that effort. After 40 years herding sheep with almost no public contact, Moses lost his confidence and felt he could not speak to Pharaoh. This humbling made Moses the kind of instrument God could use — one who depends on God rather than on natural ability.
Acts 7:22-25 — This passage reveals Moses was learned in Egyptian wisdom and mighty in words and deeds, yet his first attempt to deliver Israel was based on his own understanding and failed.
Exodus 4:10 — This shows Moses after 40 desert years describing himself as slow of speech, a striking contrast to his earlier self-confidence.
1 Corinthians 1:27 — This New Testament principle explains why God would prepare Moses by making him weak in the world's eyes.
Scripture shows that Moses spent his first 40 years in Pharaoh's palace and that he was "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds" (Acts 7:22). At 40 years old, he went to visit his Hebrew brethren and supposed they would understand that God would use his hand to deliver them, "but they understood not" (Acts 7:25). After that rejection, Moses fled to the desert, where he spent 40 years herding sheep (Acts 7 gives the three 40-year segments of his life). When God called him at the burning bush, Moses no longer described himself as mighty; he said, "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" (Exodus 4:10). The New Testament also states a principle that connects to this: "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).
Les Feldick teaches that Moses' life is broken into three 40-year periods: 40 years in Pharaoh's palace, 40 years on the back side of the desert herding sheep, and 40 years leading Israel (Acts 7). He points out that when Moses first tried to deliver Israel, he used his own position, power, and Egyptian wisdom — but God was not specifically in that effort. Moses thought Israel would understand that God would use him, yet they rejected him. Les explains that the 40 desert years stripped away the confidence Moses had gained in Egypt. With almost no contact with populated areas, Moses became insecure and did not feel he could approach Pharaoh or speak publicly. He even argued to God that he was not eloquent and had no ability to talk. Les says this is why God could then use him: Moses was no longer relying on the world's preparation. Les connects this to 1 Corinthians 1 — God cannot use people the way the world prepares them, because He chooses what the world considers foolish and weak to confound the wise and mighty. Moses, once the second man in Egypt, had to be brought to a point of complete dependence on God before he could be the deliverer of Israel.
Les Feldick teaches that when Moses was 40 years old, he went to visit his brethren using his own position and power. Moses assumed Israel would understand that God would use him to deliver them, but they did not. Les makes the point that God was not in that specific effort — Moses acted on his own understanding of God's promise rather than on a direct command from God.
Scripture says Moses was once "mighty in words and in deeds," but after 40 years herding sheep with almost no public contact, he felt insecure and said he was not eloquent. Les Feldick describes this as Moses losing the confidence that came from Egypt and realizing he could no longer approach Pharaoh on his own. The change is visible in Exodus 4:10, where Moses describes himself as slow of speech.
Les uses Moses as a prime example of this pattern. Moses had been second in command in Egypt, with all of Egypt's power, authority, and education behind him, but God could not use him in that state. Les says God does not use people the world considers intelligent, polished, or powerful. Instead, God uses what the world considers nothing, as 1 Corinthians 1:27 states. The desert prepared Moses by making him weak from the world's perspective.
Les draws from Acts 7 to show that Moses' life was divided into three 40-year segments: 40 years in Pharaoh's palace, 40 years in the desert herding sheep, and 40 years leading Israel. The middle period was not wasted time; it was the time when the Egyptian preparation was undone and replaced by a humble dependence on God. Les repeatedly points to this structure to show how carefully God timed Moses' preparation.
Moses Becomes Insecure in the Desert
Les describes the effect of the 40 desert years: Moses had almost no public contact and became insecure, feeling he could not approach Pharaoh. This made him ready to depend on God.
Moses' Life in Three 40-Year Segments
Les uses Acts 7 to show Moses had 40 years of Egyptian education and power, 40 years as a desert shepherd, and 40 years leading Israel.
Why God Commanded Israel to Destroy Entire Nations — Deuteronomy 7
And so God, in His wrath, turned them back into the wilderness for that 40 years of wandering. So now as they're about ready to go in, almost 40 years later, now we'll point it out, when they cross the River Jordan and they get on the other side, they're going to stop for Passover.
No Words After 40 Years With Sheep
Les notes that Moses had spent 40 years with almost no public audience, which explains why Moses argued he could not speak to Pharaoh.
God Doesn't Use the World's Wise and Mighty
Les uses Moses as the prime example of someone who had all the world's power and authority, then had to be sent to the desert because God uses only what the world considers weak.
The Desert Herding Years
Les repeats the Acts 7 chronology: 40 years in Pharaoh's palace, then 40 years on the back side of the desert herding sheep.
Moses, the Ark, and the Second Coming: Unlocking the Prophetic Pattern
Verse 22, and he was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, was mighty in words and deed, and when it was full, 40, 40 years old. He's been 35 years away from his kinfolk. How did he know that he would choose to be with the people of God? Well we said by faith, but faith has to come from a word.
Moses' Premature First Attempt
Les says Moses tried to deliver Israel with his own position and power, and God was not specifically in that attempt — which is why a 40-year humbling was needed.
Acts 7:22: And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
This shows what Moses was like before the desert — strong in the world's eyes, educated and powerful.
Acts 7:25: For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
This records Moses' failed first attempt to deliver Israel in his own strength.
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.
After 40 years in the desert, Moses had lost the confidence he once had in his words and ability.
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 explains why God prepared Moses by making him weak in the world's eyes rather than relying on Egyptian strength.
Scripture and Les Feldick both indicate 40 years. Les shows from Acts 7 that Moses' life was divided into three 40-year periods: 40 years in Pharaoh's palace, 40 years herding sheep, then 40 years leading Israel.
Les Feldick says no: God was not in it specifically. Moses went on his own with his position, power, and wisdom, and Israel rejected him. This failure set the stage for the 40 years in the desert.
After 40 years herding sheep with almost no public contact, Moses felt insecure and unable to speak before Pharaoh. Les connects this to the stripping away of the confidence Moses had gained in Egypt.
Les is not saying God never uses educated people; he is saying God does not use those who rely on their own wisdom and power. He uses what the world considers foolish and weak to confound the wise and mighty, just as He did with Moses after the desert.
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Weak: Lessons from Moses and the Cross