Who Is God? Understanding His Attributes and Why They Matter Part 5

Part 5: God Is Intelligent, Omniscient, and Omnipotent

We have seen that God is infinite, unchanging, simple, and both beyond and present to creation. But these qualities are not passive. The God we are describing is active—He knows, He understands, He wills, and He creates. In this part of the series, we reflect on three powerful attributes that flow from God's nature: His intelligence, His omniscience, and His omnipotence.

God Is Intelligent

To say that God is intelligent means that God has mind—not a brain, but intellect. He does not simply exist in brute force or in random motion. He knows. He understands. He acts with purpose.

We see this reflected in the world around us. The universe is not chaotic. It follows patterns. Planets orbit in predictable ways. DNA encodes information. Physics and chemistry obey stable laws. At every level, reality reveals order and intelligibility.

But order does not explain itself. Design points to a designer. Intelligibility flows from intelligence. If the world operates in structured, purposeful ways, then its source must be an intelligent cause.

This is why St. Thomas Aquinas includes divine intelligence in his reasoning about God. The directedness of creation implies a cause that acts not blindly, but with knowledge and will. God is not a cosmic machine. He is a rational agent.

The Image of God

This also explains what it means to say that human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). That image is not based on physical appearance, because God is not a body. Rather, it is found in the intellect and will—our capacity to know the truth and choose the good.

These two powers are what make human beings different from animals, and what make a relationship with God possible. It is also why the image of God is not exclusive to humans. Angels, too, possess intellect and will. Any rational creature, by that very fact, bears the mark of the Creator.

To possess intellect and will is to be capable of knowing God, loving Him, and freely responding to His call. That is the core of what it means to be in His image.

Why It Matters

If God is intelligent, then creation is not meaningless. Your life is not a fluke. The universe is not an accident. There is order, intention, and reason behind it all.

And this means you are not alone in your search for truth. Your desire to know is not something you invented. It is a reflection of the One who made you in His image.

God Is Omniscient

If God is intelligent, then it follows that He must know all that can be known. This is what we mean when we say that God is omniscient—He knows everything.

God’s knowledge is not like ours. We learn through experience, through study, and through trial and error. But God does not need to observe or analyze. He knows all things by knowing Himself.

Since God is the cause of everything, He knows each thing perfectly. He knows it not only in general, but in all its details, because it exists only through His will. His knowledge is not separate from creation. It is the very light in which creation unfolds.

God knows:

• All things actual and possible

• The past, present, and future as one

• The thoughts and intentions of the heart

Nothing is hidden from Him. Not your struggles. Not your prayers. Not your fears.

Why It Matters

Because God knows all things, you do not need to hide or pretend in prayer. You do not need to prove yourself. He knows what you need before you ask. And still, He wants you to come to Him.

God’s knowledge also means that nothing escapes His care. He does not forget. He does not miss anything. He understands the full picture, even when you cannot see beyond the moment.

God Is Omnipotent

If God is the necessary being, the cause of all that exists, and the one whose knowledge encompasses all things, then He must also have all power. This is what we call omnipotence.

God does not just know what is possible—He can bring it about. He does not need tools or materials. He creates by His will. He sustains by His power. Nothing in creation can limit or resist Him unless He allows it.

This does not mean that God can do logical contradictions, such as creating a square circle. Nor does it mean He can act contrary to His nature. God cannot lie or do evil, not because He is weak, but because He is perfect. True power includes the power to act with perfect consistency.

God’s omnipotence means that He can:

• Create from nothing

• Sustain all things at every moment

• Accomplish all that He wills in perfect wisdom and goodness

Why It Matters

God is not just wise. He is strong. He is not just good. He is able to act. That means when you place your trust in Him, you are not hoping in a kind thought or a vague idea. You are entrusting yourself to the one who can actually accomplish what He promises.

No problem is too large. No wound is too deep. God is able.

The God Who Knows, Loves, and Creates

These three attributes—intelligence, omniscience, and omnipotence—reveal a God who is not static, but personal. He knows all things, He chooses freely, and He acts with purpose. He is the rational source of a rational world.

And in His wisdom and will, He made creatures who reflect Him—not in body or strength, but in intellect and will. We are called not only to worship Him, but to think His thoughts after Him, to love as He loves, and to share in His eternal purpose.

Next Time: God Is Good

We will reflect on what it means to say that God is good, how goodness relates to being, and why this attribute changes how we see everything.