The foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

The Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

²⁰ Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶ For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no man may boast before God. ³⁰ But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, ³¹ so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? … Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  There are many who love to debate, many who write the wisdom of this age.

If you want to read what the wisdom of God sounds like compared to the understanding of men, read Job 38-42. It begins: Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, ² “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? ³ “Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me! (Job 38:1-3) and leads to: Then Job answered the Lord and said, ² “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
³ ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” ⁴ ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ ⁵ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You; ⁶ Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-6)

Obviously the text in between these verses is far too long for this format. But, I recommend that you read through it if you are unfamiliar with this dialogue between God and Job. God very clearly points out how limited Job’s knowledge and understanding of creation is. If this were to be brought up to date certainly the words would change a bit. Man after all has learned some things over the past few thousand years. Yet even the collective knowledge of the greatest scientific minds in the world can only know, understand and explain a small fraction of how the earth, the universe and all living creatures function and came to exist. They have many theories but very little knowledge. Even most of what science can explain, it is unable to duplicate or recreate. Consider for instance the complexity of the human eye, doctors and scientists have a fair understanding of how it functions and can treat and correct some conditions that affect it. But surly they are not able to duplicate it. Then consider that every type of creature has an eye that functions specifically to their needs. Although in their arrogance men will claim to have the answers, surly “the foolishness of God is wiser than men”.

Paul says the same thing is true regarding the word of God.     For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Paul says:  “the world through its wisdom did not come to know God”  Proverbs 1:7 rightly says: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In his letter to the Roman believers Paul said:  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. ²¹ For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. (Romans 1:18-23)

There are many today who trust and rely on the wisdom of men. They ascribe to a knowledge that seeks a way to explain creation without a creator. Those who fear the Lord will find God as the final answer to every question in creation. Others, professing to be wise, create theories atop of theories. Where there is no evidence they create another theory.   

God created each one of us with a free will. Those who choose to deny and reject God have the right and the ability to make that choice. It doesn’t change the truth though, creation testifies of the creator. If fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, then surly rejection of the Lord is ultimate folly. Professing to be wise, they become fools. Their foolish heart is darkened as they continue in their futile speculation.

As for myself, I will gladly identify with what Paul describes in verses 26-30,     there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; ²⁷ but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no man may boast before God. ³⁰ But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 

Lord Jesus, my hope and my trust is in You. The world may think me foolish but, just as it is written, I will make my boast in You. I will follow the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6, which says:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Thank You, heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit.  Amen.