The Great Lie: How Technology Tempts Us to Be Like God

Tim Peden
May 23
5 min read

“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”— Genesis 3:5 (NIV)

The Original Lie in a Digital Age

There’s a lie as old as Eden. A lie that says we can be like God. It was whispered to Eve in the Garden, and it's still being whispered today—through the hum of devices, the endless scroll of news, and the buzz of notifications.

My favourite times in the past have been times I have been unplugged and even out of phone coverage. Walking 5 days from Katherine Gorge to Edith Falls in the Northern Territory was so special because there was just the bush, stars, amazing pools and waterfalls. When I returned, I was overcome with breaking news, missed calls, and messages needing attention. I felt behind, guilty even—like I had let the world down by stepping away. That anxiety exposed something deeper: a subtle belief that I should have been everywhere, known everything, and responded to everyone. I wanted to be like God.

It sounds dramatic, but it’s the same temptation humanity has always faced—to grasp at the divine. Today, we do it not by eating forbidden fruit, but by reaching for our devices. In this blog, let’s explore how technology invites us to mimic God’s attributes—omniscience (all-knowing), omnipresence (always present), and omnipotence (all-powerful)—and how we can reclaim our peace by letting God be God.

1. The Lie: “You Will Be Like God”

In Genesis 3, the serpent told Eve, “You will not certainly die... you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4–5). This was the first and greatest deception—that we could elevate ourselves to divine status.

That same desire shows up again in Genesis 11 at the Tower of Babel: “Let us build a tower that reaches to the heavens and make a name for ourselves.” Humanity has long craved independence from God, seeking to become limitless.

But Scripture is clear: “I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:9). God alone holds the attributes of omniscience, omnipresence, and omnipotence. When we try to imitate those through technology, it doesn't set us free—it enslaves us.

2. Omniscience: The Urge to Know Everything

“His understanding has no limit.” — Psalm 147:5“I do not occupy myself with things too great for me.” — Psalm 131:1

Have you ever caught yourself mindlessly checking your phone—scrolling news, watching reels, or googling random facts? With search engines, live updates, and social media, we feel the pressure to stay “in the know.” Missing a headline or trend can spark anxiety. We feel disconnected, uninformed, and even irresponsible.

But we weren’t designed to carry the weight of the world’s knowledge. Constant updates can overwhelm our minds and distract our hearts. Proverbs warns that meddling in matters beyond us is like “grabbing a dog by the ears” (Prov. 26:17).

God doesn’t call us to know everything. He calls us to trust Him. Knowing God is more important than knowing everything. Let go of the need to always be informed. Turn off push notifications. Practice the peace of being okay with not knowing.

3. Omnipresence: The Pressure to Be Always “On”

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” — Psalm 139:7

With technology, we’re connected 24/7. We reply to texts in the car park, emails at dinner, and notifications late into the night. Even when physically with loved ones, our minds are often elsewhere.

This illusion of omnipresence—being everywhere at once—is exhausting. We weren’t made to live like that. Jesus, though fully divine, embraced the human limit of being present in one place. He withdrew from the crowds to pray (Luke 5:16). He didn’t try to be everywhere, and neither should we.

Being fully present is a spiritual act. Try reclaiming “sacred spaces” without screens: mealtimes, prayer time, or a walk with a friend. These moments anchor us in the now and remind us that God is present with us.

4. Omnipotence: The Illusion of Instant Control

“Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.” — Psalm 115:3“Apart from Me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5

Technology gives us extraordinary power. Within seconds, we can order food, schedule appointments, transfer money, and post thoughts to thousands, all of which breeds impatience and a false sense of control.

When tech works slowly or breaks down, we get irritable. Why? We’re used to acting like mini-gods with keyboards and apps at our command. We expect the world to respond to our will, our timing, and our needs.

But that’s not the life Jesus modelled. He trusted the Father’s timing. He waited, prayed, walked slowly, and loved deeply. His power wasn’t in speed or control, but in surrender.

Are you depending on tech to fix, comfort, or distract you? Try pausing before your next purchase, post, or scroll. Ask God: “Am I seeking You, or just control?”

5. The Way Forward: Let God Be God

So what can we do? We don’t need to throw out our phones, but we must reset how we use them. Technology is a tool, not a god. We must use it to serve our calling, not shape our identity.

Let’s remember who God is—and who we are:

God is all-knowing. We are learners.
God is always present. We are invited to be present with Him and others.
God is all-powerful. We are dependent on Him for every breath.

Practical Ways to Reorder Your Tech Life

Take a Tech Sabbath: Choose one day or evening each week to unplug and rest in God’s presence.
Start and End with God: Begin and finish your day in prayer or Scripture, not with your phone.
Limit Your “Need to Know”: Unfollow accounts, turn off alerts, or check the news once daily.
Set Boundaries on Access: Use “Do Not Disturb” modes, especially during meals, prayer, or sleep.
Pray Before You Tap: Invite God into your tech decisions. Ask, “Am I turning to You or a screen?”

Reflection Questions

In what ways do you try to “be like God” in your use of technology?
What emotions rise when you disconnect from devices for a while?
Which divine attribute (omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence) tempts you most through technology?
What healthy boundary could you set this week to keep technology as a tool, not a master?
How can remembering God’s nature bring you peace when you feel the pull of digital distraction?

References

Bible Passages:

Genesis 3:1–7 | Genesis 11:1–9 | Psalm 131:1–3 | Psalm 139:7–10
Psalm 147:5 | Psalm 115:3 | Isaiah 46:9 | Proverbs 26:17
John 15:5 | Matthew 11:28–30 | Micah 6:8

Books & Articles:

Andy Crouch, The Tech-Wise Family (2017)
Tony Reinke, 12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You (2017)
John Dyer, From the Garden to the City (2011)
Curtis Solomon, “Social Media and Our Desire to Be like God,” The Aquila Report
Jeremy Howard, “Modern Tech’s Great Revelation,” Truthscript
Carson Weitnauer, “How Technology Replaces God,” Uncommon Pursuit

Closing Thought

The great lie is still alive: You will be like God. But the truth is better—we are not God, and we don’t need to be. In Jesus, we find the freedom to be human: limited, loved, and secure in the hands of the One who holds all things together.

Let’s choose dependence over dominance, presence over performance, and peace over pressure. Let’s let God be God.