Snakes and Deepfakes

Happy Sunday. We record these sermons a few days early and we're in the midst of a bit of a thunderstorm. So, if you hear something in the background, that explains it. Do you remember this encounter that Moses and Aaron had with Pharaoh in Exodus 7?

I'll begin at verse 8. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron. When Pharaoh says to you, "Perform a wonder." Then you shall say to Aaron, "Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, and it will become a snake."

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his officials and it became a snake. Then Pharaoh the he summoned the wise men and the sorcerers and they also the magicians of Egypt did the same by their arts by their secret arts. Each one threw down his staff and they became snakes but Aaron's staff swallowed up theirs.

Now, this occurred right before the 10 plagues that God used to free the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. God was using Moses and Aaron to prove his power. Now, I'm impressed that Aaron could turn a staff, a big walking stick into a snake. And I know it wasn't Aaron.

It was God doing the miracle. Yet, it was Aaron putting on the show. I'm not surprised that God could do this. God created everything and if he wants to turn a stick into a snake, he can do it.

What is hard to believe for me is what happens next. Let me read it again. Verses 11 and 12. Then Pharaoh summoned the wise men and the sorcerers, and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did the same by their secret arts.

Each one threw down his staff, and they became snakes. Now, I've always wondered how they did that because it wasn't God. Was it slight of hand? Magicians today and illusionists can fool us with their abilities.

I took my dad to a magic show years ago, and when it was over, he said, "I saw them do things I know they didn't do." Maybe it was Satan. Did these sorcerers practice a witchcraft that enabled them to replicate what God did? Well, to make sure that we don't think that the devil can equal God, something happens to squash that idea.

Verse 12 ends with these words. But Aaron's staff swallowed up theirs. God's was better. Today, we continue in our series on the truth.

I was sent a video not long ago that was a fake. It looked like the person I know. It sounded like the person I know. However, it was not that person at all.

It was a computergenerated fake using artificial intelligence. The term is deep fake. Let me read you a def definition of deep fake. A deep fake is a realistic looking synthetic media, photo, video, or audio created using artificial intelligence, specifically deep learning algorithms, to make someone appear to say or do something they never actually did.

While deep flakes have some benign uses in entertainment, they pose significant threats by enabling malicious activities like political disinformation, fraud, and non-consensual pornography. This is scary stuff. And while it's in its infancy, I am frightened to think how future generations, including my grandchildren, will be exposed to so many lies. Pharaoh had his sorcerers.

Today, the internet has theirs. Why? Why do this? Well, in John chapter 8, Jesus referred to the devil as the father of lies.

Jesus also said there is no truth in him. The purpose of all of this is to confuse good people. Is there a cure? Can we protect ourselves?

Yes, we can. How? We must be grounded in the truth. We must be grounded in God's word.

In Psalm 119 verse 105, we find these words about what God says. It says, "Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Scripture is just that, a lamp and a light for our journey. We must be grounded.

If deep fake tomorrow showed Jesus in Detroit raising the dead, many would head that way and follow all that was said and all that was done and believe. But as believers, we need to know what scripture says about those events. In fact, that may be our next study. Jesus, when he shows up, you'll know the truth.

God bless you as you seek the truth in Jesus. And remember what he said. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. Pray with me.

God, give us wisdom to discern the things that we see and hear now. There's so many lies out there. Help us to be grounded solidly in your word in Jesus name. Amen.

God bless. Have a great week.