Thought for Today
Exodus 31:2 See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3 and I have filled him with divine spirit, with ability, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft,
Proverbs 8:5 O simple ones, learn prudence; acquire intelligence, you who lack it.
Luke 2:40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Luke 11:49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,'
“Hopefully, in the coming week, the natural world will remind you that change is a powerful, sacred force.” (These Days, September 10, 2026)
“On September 9, 2026, Evan Hubinger, lead of Anthropic’s Alignment Science team, publicly stated there is a greater than 10% chance that AI could “kill all humans” within the next decade. He stressed that Anthropic has no proven plan to ensure ASI remains aligned with human values.” (Bing search)
All progress requires change. Not all change is progress. Is change “a powerful, sacred force?” While I’m asking questions, isn’t all intelligence somewhat artificial? As we look at the world around us, how much evidence do we see of intelligence being intrinsic to our being human?
The Bible tells us, “Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” Does our basic job description, tilling and keeping the garden of Eden, necessitate nuclear weapons and/or AI? How intelligent is it for us to build and deploy weaponry whose only purpose is to obliterate that same garden and/or to eliminate the custodians of that garden? Before I ask my next question, I should admit that I own Apple stock. On the same day of the warning about Ai killing us all, Apple announced their latest smartphone design. Do we really ‘need’ smartphones at all to till and keep the garden? Do we need a new, more expensive version of those smartphones every year?
In the same These Days devotional offering that quote above, the author boldly states that “God is present in all things.” As I read those words, I heard my own voice reminding our congregation more than once, “In the Bible, all always means all.” This morning, I am wondering about God’s being in much of our modern technology. Having been trained as an engineer, I admit to loving technology. I do adhere to the engineers’ mantra that “If it isn’t broken, it doesn’t have enough features.”
But, seriously, do we really need destructive weaponry that places God’s Creation at risk for nuclear devastation and humanity at risk of elimination? At some point, shouldn’t reality rear its ugly head and alert us all to the risks we are taking? Maybe we should ask whether that is God present in all of this, or something entirely different from God.
Are we the simple ones of that Proverb above being warned to learn prudence and to acquire (real, God-given) intelligence? When I worked in business and industry, every job and position had a job description. That job description included the job title, the responsibilities, duties and the expected results. Performance was reviewed at least annually for compliance with that job description.
What is my job description as a Christian? What is mankind’s? “Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” “Luke 10:27 . . . ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’"
How’re we doing? Are AI and nuclear destruction indicators of acceptable progress toward justice, kindness, humility and/or love? Conversely, at the same time, can we ignore technology, assuming that our ‘friends and neighbors’ in other countries will also do the same?
I wish I were more encouraging and optimistic this morning, but I have seen the movies, Terminator, The Matrix, War Games and I have read countless dystopian novels. I think it’s time for me to stop writing and go read my Bible and God’s promises to us all.
Read John 14:2-3, trust God,
Pastor Ray