In 1st Corinthians 1:20, the apostle Paul provides a very powerful statement, “Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” And he goes on to say in verses 27-29, “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
We are often times enamored with what the world considers to be wise and mighty, but God isn't. In fact, He chooses things that appear foolish and weak, things that our culture might say is insignificant or that they completely despise, to put to shame the things that people might consider to be wise.
In my study for this post I found that the King James Version states it in a slightly different way. It says that God does these things to "confound the wise." What we need to understand is that sometimes God turns our wisdom completely on its head. And I for one believe that Scripture shows us three ways in which He does that.
First, there are times that God turns our conventional wisdom on its head with the people He chooses for His purposes. And there is history to back this up. He chose a cheater and a liar to establish a nation in Jacob. He chose a young shepherd boy to stand up to a giant and a whole nation to secure a victory for the people of Israel. He also chose a man that had persecuted Christians and even put them to death in a man named Saul that eventually became one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the world named Paul.
Second, He will confuse the wisdom we possess with the plans that He unfolds. Whether they are for your deliverance or plans to further His kingdom and expand His work. God will use things that we can see no good in to further the work of His kingdom. Whether that is a death of a loved one or mistake that you see no good can come from.
And third, God will really confuse the wise of the world with the pardon and grace that He freely provides. This is the most scandalous thing about Christianity. There is no amount of work, no good deeds, no behavior that can earn our way into heaven. It doesn't matter how good a man I am if I haven't humbled myself and sought out the free grace and forgiveness that God gives to each and every one of us.
If you don't think God will confuse people and their plans, just sit back and watch. God will truly confuse the wise.
We are often times enamored with what the world considers to be wise and mighty, but God isn't. In fact, He chooses things that appear foolish and weak, things that our culture might say is insignificant or that they completely despise, to put to shame the things that people might consider to be wise.
In my study for this post I found that the King James Version states it in a slightly different way. It says that God does these things to "confound the wise." What we need to understand is that sometimes God turns our wisdom completely on its head. And I for one believe that Scripture shows us three ways in which He does that.
First, there are times that God turns our conventional wisdom on its head with the people He chooses for His purposes. And there is history to back this up. He chose a cheater and a liar to establish a nation in Jacob. He chose a young shepherd boy to stand up to a giant and a whole nation to secure a victory for the people of Israel. He also chose a man that had persecuted Christians and even put them to death in a man named Saul that eventually became one of the greatest missionaries in the history of the world named Paul.
Second, He will confuse the wisdom we possess with the plans that He unfolds. Whether they are for your deliverance or plans to further His kingdom and expand His work. God will use things that we can see no good in to further the work of His kingdom. Whether that is a death of a loved one or mistake that you see no good can come from.
And third, God will really confuse the wise of the world with the pardon and grace that He freely provides. This is the most scandalous thing about Christianity. There is no amount of work, no good deeds, no behavior that can earn our way into heaven. It doesn't matter how good a man I am if I haven't humbled myself and sought out the free grace and forgiveness that God gives to each and every one of us.
If you don't think God will confuse people and their plans, just sit back and watch. God will truly confuse the wise.
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