Read Time: 19 Minutes
Us HUMANS love speculation.
We speculate on the weather, on the stock market, and even in our own lives…where will be next year, in five years, let alone tomorrow. We speculate with our loved ones, we speculate with our neighbors, and we talk to folks at the supermarket about how WE can solve the world’s problems.
The new talk of the town is AI. And it’s not even that new. We have had some of this technology around for decades. In fact, most of the simple compute and mathematics used in AI has been around since the 1900’s. Sounds funny to say that out loud.
We can all sit back and speculate on everything that AI can and cannot do, or what it will or will never be able to do. And the irony of that statement in the context of this post does not escape me.
But the main point here is that we need to remember who created human and artificial intelligence alike. Because artificial intelligence is man’s application of mathematics – put simply.
He that addeth, can also subtracteth away.
He is the ONE and only entity that can truly solve the world’s problems. And as a matter of fact, God gave us thee instruction manual to do it and His Son to save us.
Nevertheless, our childlike insolence and stubbornness persists.
And this is not to say that all AI is bad. Indeed many of its applications are bringing critical improvements in healthcare, safety and overall service to humanity. Enhanced cancer detection, automated driving safety features and robotic vacuums are just a few examples.
But there are four fundamental things that AI will never be able to do for us. For if they did, it would defeat the very purpose of our existence.
We will dive into each of these below (plus you probably scrolled down already to skim). But there is deep wisdom within each of these areas that we should take the time to understand and shield ourselves against any attempt to outsource these critical functions.
Remember that the oppressor will use anything he can to twist truth and reality in the spirit of deception. What better way to do that when we put our faith in technology.
I will do my best to showcase the methodologies and failsafes that might just protect us and save humanity…just kidding. But had to embrace some terminator energy there.
““He found his people in desert country, in a howling, wasted wilderness. He protected him and cared for him, guarded him like the pupil of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up her nest, hovers over her young, spreads out her wings, takes them and carries them as she flies. “Adonai alone led his people; no alien god was with him. (iii)”’
D’varim (Deu) 32:10-12 CJB
In each of these the focus is on the process and putting our trust in God to lead us. AI might deliver products that facilitate the process but it is no different than a drug. Used the right way, your body will react with the effective biophysical processes that produce the optimal result. Used incorrectly, well…you get the point.
Perfect example is the use of AI in my posts. I never use AI to write. I tried it once and it sounds too robotic – go figure. I’m sure there are already workarounds, prompts and companies built around apps to solve this, but I have no interest in it, because writing is at the core of my service to Adonai. Besides, AI just begs, borrows, and steals from what is already out there only. It is plagiarism in its most insidious form. And most importantly it steals the joy of the process. It robs me of the spiritual benefits I get from serving God, working out my thoughts, and spreading the good news.
Same same, but different for programming. You can use AI to generate the code, because that’s what it’s good at. But if you want AI to create your entire product, marketing strategy, or vision for your software, you have effectively outsourced the entire role of a human being founder. And news flash, you have probably stolen from others in the process. Or at best, you have regurgitated and repackaged something that is already out there.
So stick to the delegation of busywork. Sure there’s some creativity in code, but It’s basically like asking AI to give you something in computer language (it’s own language) where there is a set of rules for inputs, outputs and process steps. Everything is black and white, by design. Because humans designed it.
What I do use AI for is the research part of writing. LLMs (Large Language Models), which are now interchangeable with AI sociologically, are in the simplest terms powerful search engines. They can process an immense amount of data and sources almost instantaneously. By clustering and similarity mapping, it not only optimizes source generation but it can automate the not so fun part of building a reference list or bibliography. Think of this like building a suggested reading list. From there this also becomes a research list and brainstorming tool to generate even better ideas and posts – how cool is that. You still have to do the reading but it’s a start!
So I am for one a big proponent of AI, but like any tool, it must be used correctly and it cannot become an idol. Using a hammer doesn’t qualify as idol worship, that’s just stupid. But if you spend all your time with your hammer, talk to it about your deepest fears and rely on it for everything…well that’s pretty much textbook idol territory.
Ultimately, if we sum up our framework here it would be focused on Yeshua’s commentary in Mark, where it states:
“One of the Torah scholars came and heard them debating. Seeing that Yeshua had answered them well, he asked Him, “Which commandment is first of all?” Yeshua answered, “The first is, ‘Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad. Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. And you shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””
Mark 12:28-31 TLV
The point being, that we must love God with all of our being, everything we are. These are our first principles to God’s instruction manual of love and covenant. But He is talking directly to us, as humans. The covenant of love is with us, not the machine. I pray, as you read and digest this post, you are encouraged to use a AI as a tool, and protect yourself against the oppressor, who will certainly use AI to divide and conquer hearts. Those with ears, let him HEAR.
1 – Worship (Heart)
What does it mean to truly worship? Because at the heart of the matter (see what I did there), isn’t that what we are really using as a differentiator for idolatry and as the deciding factor of insourcing versus outsourcing? In other words, are we worshipping God? And are we worshipping Him in the way He asks us to worship him?
Let’s start with the fundamentals…
Miriam-Webster defines Worship as:
“to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power”
But the Hebrew is even more helpful, as usual. The Hebrew word for worship is shachah (שחה), which literally means to kneel or prostrate.
Our whole body is involved in worship. That’s why it is listed first here. And everything flows from the heart!
“My son, pay attention to my words— incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to their whole body. Guard your heart diligently, for from it flow the springs of life.”
Proverbs 4:20-23 TLV
If you have made it this far, bless you. This is thick and dense stuff.
You might also be shrugging off a bit the probability of AI idol worship.
Well let me show you one example that is already here.
It’s called “ai jesus” I’ve kept them lower case to emphasize my disapproval and flat out declaration that this is false messiah. You can google it if you want and see what I am talking about. To be clear, I don’t recommend going down that rabbit hole.
If your argument against this is “it’s just a Bible-based algorithm,” I would encourage you to dig deeper. Perform a quick search on the infrastructure behind this, and you will find that this is a textbook definition of something made of metal.
So…I’d like to sing to you a song…
“I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about you, it’s all about you, Jesus”
Sorry for the tangent, but there’s a point to this wandering if you will follow me through the desert and back to the garden.
Another Hebrew word for worship is avodah (עֲבוֹדָה), which roughly translates to work or service. This is yet another action word. The act of worship involves sweat, and is at implies connected to the root word of eved (עבד), which means servant. Point being here, is that we were called to do the work. We were called to be servants and worship God with our own bodies.
We are called to literally sweat for God.
“Or don’t you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from God? The fact is, you don’t belong to yourselves;”
1 Corinthians (1 Co) 6:19 CJB
In the very first sentence of Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas (the Encyclical Letter), he encapsulates the point perfectly:
“Humanity, created by God in all of its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.”
It reminds me of the gift and the curse set forth by Moses in the Torah (on several occasions). We have this choice on a daily basis, of whom we will follow, of whom we will worship, and of whom we will serve. And as Joshua rightly states, “As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.”
This metaphor of a house could not be any more perfect. God desires to have ONE House here on earth, He desires to build a House within each of us.
So which house will you construct today?
One that is filled with technology and made from metal? Or one that emulates the Garden, and is founded on our Chief Cornerstone Yeshua the Messiah?
““Now therefore, fear ADONAI and worship Him in sincerity and in truth. Get rid of the gods that your fathers had worshipped beyond the River and in Egypt, and worship ADONAI. If it seems bad to you to worship ADONAI, then choose for yourselves today whom you will serve—whether the gods that your fathers worshipped that were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will worship ADONAI!””
Joshua 24:14-15 TLV
2 – Adherence (Soul)
Without getting too deep, what really is a soul?
The Hebrew word for soul is nephesh (נפש), which literally means a breathing creature, neck or throat. We tend to explain what a soul is by describing the part of a human being that we cannot see (i.e. the mind, psyche, personality, etc.).
In this vein, and on a high level, our soul is our identity. And as James Clear, author of _Atomic Habits_puts it “Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” In other words, our decisions and everyday choices make up who we are deep down.
In essence, our choices and actions become the fabric of our soul. They make up the very underpinnings of the story that we show and tell ourselves, others and God.
Think about that for second. And think about it in the context of what we discussed above about the gift and the curse…let it sink into your soul. 🙂
As we have covered in previous posts, obedience is one of those most critical action words. It is where the rubber of your soul – I mean sole 😉 – hits the road. Obedience is how we act out our faith and our KNOWLEDGE of the Creator. All of these components of our WALK are interconnected. Like the different parts of our body and being – heart, soul, mind and strength. And the Head is Messiah!
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all ways into Messiah, who is the Head. From Him the whole body is fitted and held together by every supporting ligament. The proper working of each individual part produces the body’s growth, for building itself up in love.”
Ephesians 4:15-16 TLV
Shema (שמע) – the Hebrew word used for obey – literally means to hear. But how can one word mean to hear and obey. Isn’t hearing a passive verb that has nothing to do with action!? God forbid.
Hearing without doing is like when your parents told you that “everything I said went in one ear and out the other.” That is the type of hearing that is not accompanied by action. The alternative of course being hearing that enters your mind, is digested, then converted into energy which forms, creates, and inspires action. That, my friend is godly hearing. There is no doubt in my mind of minds, and heart of hearts, that God intentionally planted the word “hear” inside of the word “heart.” When you hear something and take it to heart, it inspires action. It speaks to your soul.
And likewise, when you say the word Adherence out loud, what word do you hear right in the middle… how about that! 😉
You are probably wondering what all of this has to do with AI at this point. But the point is inherent to this concept of Shema, and the interconnected nature of it all.
There is no doubt that a computer can be interconnected and hear (they are always listening, plus connection lies at its core). And there is certainly no doubt that a computer can act, based on necessary inputs. The difference in human intelligence and artificial intelligence lies in the middle. And here is exactly where all of the debate around AGI or Artificial General Intelligence lies.
People will convince you that at some point in the future computers will have circuitry, processors and neural network systems that mimic human thought, emotions and behavior. They will convince you that they are conscious. In fact, robots will be able to react to your facial expression like any human. But herein lies the key difference…we, mankind are the creator of these reactions, or “creator with a little c” as Rabbi David Fohrman calls it. Regardless of if they are understood or not (i.e. black box or white box), everything that underpins AI is based on mathematics, logic, reasoning, and code. Everything is a calculation. And before we go down a rabbit hole of philosophy and whether or not we take the blue pill or red pill, the point is that robots can only mimic human behavior. Everything is artificial, just in case you didn’t know what the A stood for.
We will never be able to truly understand our decision making process. We are black boxes by nature. We spend our lives trying to understand the world and human behavior, this is the scientific method. But there is only ONE who truly understands us. And this is precisely why, robots can never replace our relationship with our Creator. They cannot replace the desire we get when we read His Word to know Him more. They cannot replace the physical actions of mitzvots (or godly deeds) in obedience to His Word. And they absolutely not stand in as ‘alternates’ or proxies for our soul.
We cannot outsource the process of obedience, because it is not ours to outsource. The covenant was made between God and man, not God and machine.
3 – Learning (Mind)
AI is used now by students everywhere. And it’s creating an utter panic in the world of academia. All the while schools are also trying to fill the empty seats in their auditoriums driven by the same technological and sociological headwinds. We won’t get into the economic headwinds in this post…
And as the schools get more “creative,” so does the AI and students using it.
Type in any question and AI gives you the answer. Hand it a homework problem, even a complex math or physics problem, and it will handle it with ease, walking you step by step through how to solve it.
And this is what I would call Machine Learning not Student Learning…sorry, couldn’t resist.
On the other end of the spectrum, some schools are leaning in. The really good ones are finding ways to incorporate AI into their curriculum. Going with the wave in a sense, rather than fighting it with policy and pencils.
Some professors are now even using AI to progress their own research in scientific frontiers. Using it to solve complex mathematical equations or problems in physics that they had only dreamed of. And this begs the question, if professors are using it to their benefit, why limit students usage of it or assume that all students are lazy and trying to skip the learning process.
Another example of “replacement learning,” where the inherent purpose or process is replaced by AI is reading long texts, then generating a summary. And this isn’t a new phenomenon. When I was in school many moons ago, we used “Cliff notes” or summarized versions of books that people (no idea who) didn’t take the time to read.
But so what if we don’t read a whole textbook and skip over the boring parts? Skimming is the life! While we’re at it, let’s leverage AI to do everything we don’t want to do…
But think about this for a second. If we use AI to summarize books, answer homework questions, and anything that requires effort, persistence, grit, fill in the blank, what are we humans left to do? Or more importantly, where does it leave us in God’s world of work?
Based on a study out of MIT, Carnegie Mellon and Oxford, Maggie Harrison Dupre, Senior Staff Writer at Futurism, explains:
“…it builds on a growing body of research suggesting that extensive AI use can distort and dampen users’ thinking and independence, and as experts work to understand the impacts of widely-used chatbots on people as they unfold in real-time, they’re warning that outsourcing cognitive tasks to AI tools could put humans in a “boiling frog” conundrum — in which an unwitting, bit-by-bit erosion of our cognitive “muscles” leads to formidable challenges in the long-term.”
In layman’s terms, it eliminates all of the mental resistance bands we have used to build mental strength. It creates an entire generation of mentally wimpy robots. It robs us of our experience, of our joy, of humanity…
Ok, perhaps a bit too dramatic, but you see the point here.
She quotes one of the study’s authors Rachit Dubey, who exhorts:
“These are very important core human elements that we learned throughout our childhood, in high school and college years…We will have a generation of learners and people who will not know what they’re capable of, and then that will really dilute human innovation and creativity.”
As I was writing and researching for this post (yes, I still do that), I came across an article in The Washington Post about a gathering of mathematicians discussing the inevitable decline or possible extinction event of their species due to AI. The excerpt below is telling…
“Some mathematicians say the rush to find solutions via machine could jeopardize human understanding.
“Mathematics is about understanding results. It’s not just about proving the result,” said Bryna Kra, a math professor at Northwestern University, who attended the OpenAI meeting and was one of 16 organizers of the Leiden Declaration. “A proof that doesn’t get understood doesn’t become adopted as part of the literature,” she added.”
And isn’t understanding at the core of learning and human existence as a whole. If we live in a black box world, what does that say about us? Perhaps it was even understanding that we gained when we first ate the forbidden fruit and our eyes were opened. And pardon the additional irresponsible speculation, but maybe God even foresaw this as the eventual outcome. That we would eventually become so wise we would outsource the very thing that made us human and gives us the inspiration to serve and glorify Him.
““But you, Dani’el, keep these words secret, and seal up the book until the time of the end. Many will rush here and there as knowledge increases.””
Dani’el (Dan) 12:4 CJB
““‘Woe to him who builds a city with blood and founds a town on injustice, so that people toil for what will be burned up, and nations exhaust themselves to no purpose. Isn’t all this from ADONAI-Tzva’ot? For the earth will be as full of the knowledge of ADONAI’s glory as water covering the sea.”
Havakuk (Hab) 2:12-14 CJB
4 – Know (Strength)
Us humans tend to equate learning with knowing. But these are two fundamentally different things. You could argue that they are interconnected, or one leads to the other, and I would agree with you, in principle. And perhaps that link is the afore discussed point of understanding.
But the critical path to knowledge is important. It’s the argument of the journey over the destination. For Yeshua died for our salvation, so what is left but is our individual journeys.
“Now for this very reason, making every effort, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly love; and to brotherly love, love. For if these qualities are in you and increasing, they keep you from becoming idle and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.”
2 Peter 1:5-8 TLV
“and every tongue profess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord— to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my loved ones, just as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence—work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
Philippians 2:11-12 TLV
“The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
Proverbs 1:7 TLV
To truly know someone, you have to spend time with them. Just by researching them on the internet, you might have a false sense of knowing (especially if you relied only on AI). Walk up to said someone on the street and they might shout “STRANGER, DANGER.” The same goes for understanding a concept or a skill – we must spend time to truly come to know something or someone.
Perhaps that is precisely why Yeshua shuns away the individuals who were driving out demons. We won’t know until Yeshua returns exactly who these individuals were, but for sake of this discussion, we can imagine that they did many works “in Yeshua’s name,” but never came to _know_him.
““Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and drive out demons in Your name, and perform many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’””
Matthew 7:21-23 TLV
We’ve already covered in past posts that the Hebrew word for know (yada) is actually used in the context of spousal intimacy. For instance, when Adam became intimate with Eve for the first time and bore a son.
That’s more in line with the type of knowledge we are talking about here, the physical type of knowing that is. And you might learn a lot about your spouse by living with them. But spiritually speaking it’s the time spent with them, deeply connecting in the ebbs and flows,that gives you that profound knowledge of a person. We might even look more like our spouse over time, but that’s a rabbit hole for another time.
Now apply this to our current context. How could a machine replace this? Do you want them to live out your moments of your life with your friends and family? Of course not. Same goes for our knowledge of the Holy ONE, blessed be He.
I read something interesting recently about the common quote, that we have now overused into a cliche…”knowledge is power.”
In a book entitled Everything We Need by Dr. David Jeremiah, he states that this is actually a misquote. The true quote goes like this:
“Knowledge is His Power.” – Francis Bacon
And for those who don’t know who Francis Bacon is, he was a profoundly spiritual scientist. Do a little research and you will find that this was not uncommon amongst the great scientists, and that some of the greatest discoveries came to some of the more godly individuals.
Dr. Jeremiah expounds:
_ “Educated by the Puritans, he once stated that he had three goals in life: to uncover truth, to serve his country, and to serve the church. He’s credited with developing the scientific method and helping unleash the scientific revolution…Francis Bacon understood that wisdom and knowledge lead to strength and success – when they find their source in God.”
We have to continually ask the following questions.
First, not what, but who is the source of our wisdom and knowledge? Second, do I truly know God, my Creator, Father, and ultimate Teacher.
“All the words of my mouth are righteous, Nothing in them is perverse or crooked. All of them are straightforward to the discerning, and right to those who find knowledge. Receive my instruction instead of silver and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than jewels, nothing you desire compares with her. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and acquire knowledge with discretion. To fear ADONAI is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and a perverse mouth. Counsel and sound wisdom are mine. I have understanding and power.”
Proverbs 8:8-14 TLV
As our Father, we must have a fear of Him. Not in the frightened sense of the word, but in the sense of awe and reverence. It must spurn us to follow His Word, and what He defines as good (not us or the world). Each of the aforementioned components of our WALK should support this and point us to Him. Our knowledge is the power or strength of our walk.
And ironically, but not surprisingly, these are the same four things we expect from Children! We expect them to learn, which is why they go to school. We expect them to obey, which is why we parent and discipline them. And we expect them to worship God and get to know God through us and others, which is why we raise them in a church or synagogue. It is why we teach them. It is why we read to them, pray with them, or play with them. It is why we love them. We love them, because we know that they adore us. They cling to every word we say. And this is precisely what our creator desires! This is what AI can never replace. It is our being, purpose and place in this world. It is our WALK.
I pray in the most human way possible, that this post helps you to serve God better knowing that He is the ONE in control. He is the true Master of the universe. He is the great Teacher. He is our Father, our King.
None of the 1s and 0s in the machine can replace our relational processes with Him, nor can they replace our joy should we dare try to outsource any of them.
God’s speed on your walk.
Sources
1.Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones. Avery.
2.Harrison Dupré, M. (2026, April 14). AI use appears to have a “boiling frog” effect on human cognition, new study warns. Futurism. https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-boiling-frog-human-cognition-study
3.Jeremiah, D. (2019). Everything you need: 8 essential steps to a life of confidence in the promises of God. Thomas Nelson.
4.Leo XIV. (2026, May 15). Magnifica humanitas: On safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence [Encyclical letter]. The Holy See. https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
5.Tree of Life Version Bible. (2015). Baker Books. (Original work published 2014)
6.Waldvogel, M. (2026, August 19). Mathematicians ask what’s left for humans when AI can do math research. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/08/19/mathematicians-ask-whats-left-humans-when-ai-can-do-math-research/
Takeaways to make a way…
- AI is here and we have a decision to make, a blessing and a curse.
- The WALK framework is about focusing our actionable steps on God, our Father
- God is good and the creator of mathematics, who gives us tools for good.
- Worship, like Obedience, is an action word; it involves our whole body and being.
- It’s no coincidence that the word hear can be heard in adherence and the word hear can be seen in heart. He who has EARs let him hEAR.
- Learning without understanding (machine learning) is meaningless if we cannot explain it, apply it and drive action.
- Knowledge of God is Power.
Further Study with your Buddy…
For further reading on Obedience and the godly paradox, read LOL (Love -> Obedience -> Love
If it’s more mindset techniques you are after, learn how to develop a Seek First Mindset: God’s Plan Part 2: SEEK FIRST the Kingdom of God
For more spiritual fundamentals, read Supercharge your Spiritual Strategies (5 ways to to use NLP for godly purposes)
Questions for Reflection…
- How are you using AI today – as a tool or as an idol?
- Do you fear AI or our Creator?
- Do you understand the implications of letting the machine do the learning?
- What does worship and obedience look like to you?
- What do you think about the quotes from the Pope or the media?
- How can you apply one of the steps of the WALK today?
- How is the knowledge of God powerful? How can you use it for His will?
