Yes — God deliberately uses weak and foolish things so that no human being can boast and so that His power is unmistakably His.
In 1 Corinthians 1:27–29, Paul says God has chosen the foolish, weak, base, despised, and 'things which are not' to confound the wise and mighty, with the express purpose 'that no flesh should glory in his presence.' Les Feldick emphasizes that God places His treasure in 'earthen vessels' — ordinary, mortal people like Paul and Moses — so the power is seen to be God's, not man's.
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 — Paul directly states that God has chosen the foolish, weak, base, despised, and non-existent things so that no flesh may glory before Him.
2 Corinthians 4:7 — This verse compares believers to earthen vessels, showing the treasure of God’s glory is carried by frail humans so the power is clearly God’s.
2 Corinthians 12:9 — God’s strength is made perfect in human weakness, explaining why He uses weak instruments.
In 1 Corinthians 1:27–29, the Bible says, '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.' In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul writes, 'But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.' This shows God places His light and knowledge in frail human bodies. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord tells Paul, 'My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.' Thus, Scripture explicitly ties God's power to human weakness.
Les Feldick explains that God deliberately passes over those with talent, IQ, wealth, and influence because when they succeed they would be prone to boast 'Look what I did' (Clip 3). Instead, God chooses the commonplace, the weak, and those who have nothing to offer in their flesh (Clips 5, 7). He points to Paul on Mars Hill, called a 'babbler' by the philosophers, yet God used him to shake up the city (Clip 2). He also traces this back to Moses: while Moses was mighty and had clout in Egypt, God could not use him; only after he was stripped of that power did God use him (Clips 4, 5). The reason, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:29, is 'that no flesh should glory in his presence' (Clips 1, 3).
Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 1:28, 'things which are not' are things the world isn't even aware of — they have no credentials and are nothing in the eyes of the successful world. Yet these are exactly the instruments God uses to confound the high and mighty. He notes that verse 29 provides the reason for these seemingly illogical choices (Clip 1). Paul on Mars Hill was called a babbler, yet God used him to shake up the philosophers (Clip 2).
Les uses Moses to illustrate that God could not use him while he was the second man in Egypt with power and clout. When Moses acted in the energy of the flesh, he failed. Only later, when he had nothing in his flesh to offer, did God use him (Clips 4, 5). This aligns with the principle that no flesh may glory in God's presence (1 Corinthians 1:29).
Les points out that when Paul stood on Mars Hill, the philosophers considered him a mere babbler, yet Paul is remembered while the philosophers are not (Clip 2). Paul himself said, 'my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom' (1 Corinthians 2:4), and Les adds that Paul was commonplace and shook in his boots as he entered strange places — exactly the kind of person God uses (Clip 7).
Treasure in Mortal Men
Les explains that the magnificent treasure of God’s knowledge has not been entrusted to angels but to mortal human beings like Paul, showing God purposely uses frail humanity.
Things Which Are Not
Les emphasizes that God uses the things the world considers nothing—with no credentials—to confound the high and mighty, and says verse 29 gives the reason.
Foolish Things Confound the Wise
Les gives Paul at Mars Hill as an example of a weak vessel called a 'babbler' who nonetheless shook the philosophers, showing God wins through what the world ridicules.
No Flesh Should Glory
Les explains that God won’t use people with all the right credentials because they would be prone to boast 'look what I did' — the purpose is that no flesh should glory in God’s presence.
Moses in the Energy of the Flesh
Les uses Moses to illustrate that while he was mighty and powerful, God couldn't use him; it wasn't until he lost that power that God could use him.
Strength Made Perfect in Weakness
Les draws on 2 Corinthians 12:9 to show that God's grace and strength are perfected in weakness, which is why he never used the great or wealthy but always the commonplace.
The Foolishness of God Is Wiser
Les explains that although God is not weak, the world sees His methods—like turning the other cheek—as weakness, yet this divine weakness is stronger than men, connecting to why God works through what seems foolish.
Paul's Plain and Fearful Speech
Les insists Paul was commonplace and fearful, and his preaching had no enticing words, proving God uses people the world scoffs at rather than those with many degrees or natural 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;
Paul's central statement that God chooses the foolish and weak to shame the wise and mighty.
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:
Shows God also chooses base, despised, and nonexistent things to destroy the existing order.
1 Corinthians 1:29: That no flesh should glory in his presence.
Reveals the purpose: no human can boast before God.
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.
The treasure of God's glory is carried in weak earthen vessels so the power belongs to God.
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 completed in human weakness.
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 preaching was not marked by human persuasion or credentials.
God chose the foolish and weak things of the world to confound the wise and mighty (1 Corinthians 1:27). Les explains this is because people with all the right credentials would be prone to say 'look what I did' instead of giving glory to God. The goal is that no flesh should glory in God's presence.
Les asks why God shouldn't use such people, but shows from 1 Corinthians 1:29 that He refrains because no human being may boast in His sight. Even Moses, when he was mighty and powerful, could not be used; God used him only when he was weak. So God's pattern is to use the commonplace.
Les says these are things the world is not even aware of, things with no credentials and nothing in the eyes of the successful world. God uses these 'nothing' things to bring to nothing the things that are, confounding the high and mighty.
So that the power is clearly His. As 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, God's strength is made perfect in weakness. Les notes God never used the great men of the world but always the commonplace, people who have nothing in their flesh to offer.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Suffering and Glory