Purpose

My favorite story in the old testament is the story of Elijah's encounters with God when he escaped from certain death by the hand of Jezebel in 1 Kings 19.  Elijah barely escapes with his life, and runs out into the wilderness.  At the point of death, God comes to him and cares for him.

4 But [Elijah] himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.” 8 And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

This is a sweet picture of the tenderness of God, how he cares for our needs.  Elijah goes on to the mount of Horeb and there he encounters God again.

“What are you doing here, Eli′jah?” 10 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 11 And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 And when Eli′jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Eli′jah?” 

God comes in a still small voice to Elijah, and asks him simply, what are you doing here? He first tended to Elijah's needs and gave him strength.  Then he met him on Horeb and in a still, small voice, calmed Elijah's zealous self deception. Then he gave him a purpose, sending him back to accomplish an important task for God's kingdom. "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Haz′ael to be king over Syria"

God understands how humans work.  He knows how to provide for our needs and give us a purpose.  Has he given you your purpose?  Is it to feed the hungry, care for the hurting, work to end human trafficking or bring clean water to 3rd world counties?  Does he use you to write, or preach, or have quiet conversations with people about his son?  God is a wonderful father who knows what we have been created for, and he gives purpose to life after caring for our needs and changing our mindset.