God’s AI
Rebekah McCloud
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been around since 1956. In the last decade or so, it has advanced and become integrated into our daily technological functioning (for example, Siri and Alexa). I saw an advertisement the other day about AI. The caption said, “reinvent what’s possible.” Now that was one of those things that made me say hmmm. Isn’t that an aspect of the power of God? Psalm 77:14, in the Message Bible says, “You’re the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do.”
The Bible is full of examples of what God can do. God parted the Red Sea and let the Israelites cross on dry land to escape Pharaoh’s Army (Exodus 14: 21-22). God provided the widow woman a never-ending jar of flour and jug of oil (I Kings 17: 14-16). God allowed a donkey to speak to Balaam (Numbers 22:28-30). God gave extraordinary strength to Elijah to outrun Ahab’s chariots (I Kings 18:46). God stopped the earth from spinning so the Israelites could defeat their enemies (Joshua 10:13). God placed Jesus in Mary’s womb (Luke 1:27-35). Nothing is too hard for God. Did he not reinvent what is possible?
Then came Jesus. He did many things as well. John 21:25 says, “…If everyone of them was written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” In addition to healing a variety of people and feeding the masses, Jesus turned water into wine (John 2: 1-11). Jesus casted out an unclean spirit (Mark 1: 23-28). Jesus opened blind eyes (Matthew 9: 27-31, John 9: 1-38, and Mark 8: 22-26). He raised people from the dead (John 11: 1-46, Luke 7: 11-18, and Matthew 9: 18-26). Did he not reinvent what is possible?
There is no reason for us to doubt that the Father and the Son can do what seems impossible. They can call those things that be not as if they were (Romans 4:17). Isaiah 60:22 tells us that when the time is right, the Lord will make things happen. We do not need to wonder what if. Jesus asks in Mark 9:23, “If? There are no ifs among believers. Anything can happen.”
God is greater than artificial intelligence. He is great and greatly to be praised (Psalm 96:4). There is none like our God. He has done things that seemed like they were impossible in my life. He may have done so for you. God specializes in what seems to be impossible. Man cannot fathom His power. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love him.” Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to do, “Exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we ask or think.”
God has a plan and a purpose for our lives. This plan is crafted for each of us and is full of possibilities and God’s AI (awesome impact). It is up to us to keep our eyes focused on the Master. Micah 6:8 tells us that God requires three things of us: to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly. When we follow God’s lead, all things are possible, even those things that seem impossible. God’s awesome impact (AI) will ripple through our lives like a pebble thrown into a pond. He is able! The song writer (Richard Mullins) says it this way:
“My God is awesome
He can move mountains
Keep me in the valley
Hide me from the rain.
My God is awesome
He heals me when I’m broken
Gives strength where I’ve been weakened
Forever He will reign.
My God is awesome, awesome, awesome, awesome.