God deliberately chooses what the world calls foolish, weak, base, despised, and insignificant in order to confound the wise and mighty.
In 1 Corinthians 1:25-29, God reveals that He has chosen the world's rejects to overturn human evaluations of wisdom and strength. Les Feldick teaches this pattern through the examples of Paul and Moses, showing that God uses people who have nothing in themselves to offer. The ultimate purpose is that no flesh should glory in God's presence.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 — This is the central passage where God explicitly says He has chosen the foolish, weak, despised, and 'things which are not' to confound the wise and mighty.
1 Corinthians 1:29 — It gives the purpose of God's unusual choice: that no flesh should glory in His presence.
1 Corinthians 2:4 — Paul's own ministry is an example of God using unimpressive, non-humanly-wise words.
In 1 Corinthians 1:25, Paul states that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men." He then explains in verse 26 that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble are called. Verse 27 asks the reader to look at what God has actually chosen: "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." Verse 28 continues: "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." The reason appears in verse 29: "That no flesh should glory in his presence." Paul also connects this to his own ministry in 1 Corinthians 2:4: "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." And in 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord tells Paul, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness."
Les Feldick emphasizes that God does not operate the way the world expects. Instead, God uses the very things the world laughs at and despises. Mankind would never dream of using such things, but God uses them for His honor and glory. The purpose, Les explains, is that no flesh should glory in His presence (Clip2). Les points to Paul as an example. Although we think of Paul as a bold apostle, he was actually "very commonplace" and "shook in his boots" as he entered strange places. Paul's preaching did not rely on enticing words, and Les reminds his listeners that a person does not need "ten degrees behind your name" to be something for God. The person the world scoffs at and asks, "Who does he think he is?" is the person God can use (Clip1). Les applies the same principle to Moses. When Moses was mighty, powerful, and had clout in Egypt, God could not use him. He went out in the energy of the flesh thinking he could deliver Israel. God had to bring Moses to the point where he was nothing in the world's eyes before he could be God's instrument (Clip3, Clip7). God, Les says, "chose never to use the great men of this world." He did not use the wealthy or kings; He always used the commonplace, people who had nothing in their flesh to offer (Clip5). Les also comments on the world's view of God's methods. From man's perspective, God seems foolish when He says He can save someone from the most utter, gutter-type existence and make that person a saint. The world calls God's ways weak—like turning the other cheek—but God's so-called foolishness is wiser than the greatest philosopher, and His weakness is stronger than men (Clip4, Clip6).
Les puts it directly: "This is why God chose never to use the great men of this world." He did not use the wealthy, and He did not use kings. He always used the commonplace, people who had nothing in their flesh to offer (Clip5). Similarly, when thinking about preachers of the gospel, Les asks how many intellectual, highly educated, and highly polished people are used by God—and answers, "Very few, if any." God can only use that which, in the eyes of the world, is nothing (Clip7).
Paul was not a man of natural courage or impressive credentials. He was "very commonplace" and "shook in his boots" when entering strange places. He said his speech and preaching were not with enticing words. Les draws the practical conclusion: "You don't have to have ten degrees behind your name in order to be something for God." Les is thankful this is true, or he would not be teaching (Clip1).
Moses, when he was second man in Egypt and had all the power and authority under Pharaoh, thought he could lead Israel out by his own strength. But Les says that when Moses was mighty and had clout, God could not use him. He went out in the energy of the flesh. God had to send Moses somewhere—Les asks, "God had to send him where?"—the point being that Egyptian power did not qualify Moses for God's use (Clip3, Clip7).
God uses that which mankind would never dream of using, and He uses it for His honor and glory. The purpose is stated in 1 Corinthians 1:29: "That no flesh should glory in his presence." Les points back to 2 Corinthians 4:7, saying it is the same concept—all of this is for the one purpose that no flesh should glory in His presence (Clip2).
Why God Chooses the Foolish Over the Wise — 1 Corinthians 1:27-31
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Paul's Weakness
Les teaches that Paul was commonplace, frightened, and unimpressive in speech, proving God does not require human credentials or eloquence to use someone.
God Chooses the Foolish
Les reads 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 and explains that God uses what mankind would never dream of using, all for His honor and glory and so no flesh can boast.
Moses in the Flesh
Les applies 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 to Moses, showing that when Moses had power and clout, God could not use him because he acted in the energy of the flesh.
God's Weakness Is Stronger
Les explains that the world calls God's methods weak—turning the other cheek—yet God's foolishness is wiser than philosophers and His weakness stronger than men.
God Uses the Commonplace
Les says God deliberately never used the great, wealthy, or royal; He always used common people with nothing in their flesh to offer.
Man's View of God's Foolishness
Les observes that men think God is foolish for claiming He can save even a gutter-type existence and make a saint—yet that is exactly the kind of person God uses.
No Credentials Needed
Les emphasizes that God uses very few polished intellectuals and can only use what the world considers nothing, pointing to Moses as a prime example.
1 Corinthians 1:25: Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
It introduces why God's 'foolish' choice outsmarts and outpowers the world's wisdom and strength.
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 notes that God's calling rarely runs to the world's wise, mighty, or noble.
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;
Direct statement that God deliberately chose the foolish and weak to shame the wise and strong.
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 also chooses the despised and the nonexistent to bring to nothing the world's important things.
1 Corinthians 1:29: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
This gives the ultimate purpose of God's unusual selection: no human can boast.
1 Corinthians 2:4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
Paul's ministry is an example of God using unimpressive, non-humanly-wise words.
2 Corinthians 12:9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
God's strength is revealed through human weakness, reinforcing the principle.
Yes. The Bible says God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise and the weak things to confound the mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27). Les Feldick teaches that God uses what the world scoffs at and what mankind would never dream of using, so that no one can glory in His presence (Clip2).
Les says that when Moses was mighty, had power, and had clout, God could not use him because Moses went out in the energy of the flesh to deliver Israel (Clip3). Moses was second only to Pharaoh in Egypt, but his human position and ability did not qualify him for God's work (Clip7).
Les says very few, if any. God does not use those kinds of people in the way the world expects; He can only use what in the eyes of the world is nothing (Clip7). Paul's preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, and Les points out you do not need ten degrees to be something for God (Clip1).
Watch the Teaching: Why God Chooses the Foolish Over the Wise — 1 Corinthians 1:27-31