“And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.” (Genesis 11:6)
I read this chapter early this morning and got stuck right here on this sentence. It’s God speaking about mankind, as He watches them attempt to build a tower that reaches heaven.
Side note: Babel reminds me of the AI race.
God was right (to no one’s surprise). He knows how powerful humans are. And I can’t help but wonder where the endgame is with our AI race knowing that God sometimes deliberately messes up man’s plan as an act of mercy.
Have you ever stopped to think about what God is saying with that one sentence?
Humans were created with real God given power
Our power is amplified when we work together
Our biological limitation isn’t intelligence, but morality
When left to our own devices, we end up sliding into self-exaltation
We are watching a modern day Babel unfold before our eyes. Listen to any of the big names in AI and the promises of a bright future, with universal high income, and unending creativity, sound very much like the people in ancient times.
“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens…”
Will God restrain us again as a great act of mercy?
Humans hate weakness. We champion independence. And yet in scripture, it seems that independence (without God) is the very thing that will send humans to ruin. Weakness actually ends up as a strength, because it forces us to cry out for help.
Our problem has never been our limitations of power and intelligence, and yet we always think that. “Once I have this money, or this new technological breakthrough, etc. then I will achieve __________”.
Our problem - at its root - is moral. Our relationship with our Creator.
And this is why God uses restraint as mercy. Unchecked power and intelligence without dependence on God is suicide.
This is the question I’m asking myself this morning:
Where in my life do I think that my (lack of) intelligence or power is the reason I’m stuck in a problem? Chances are, I’m looking in the wrong direction.
Excellent eye-opener!
Anytime we think that we can supersede what God intends for humanity, we must know that he will remind us of who is in control and who is the one true God. Good question posed today.