SECTION 2:  Multiplicity of Purpose

While purpose is specific to a particular individual or product, that purpose may also be varied and numerous. Each of us is born with a purpose that is multifaceted. Our overarching purpose is composed of various smaller objectives or milestones, each with its own purpose contributing to the fulfillment of our greater life goals. 

The multiplicity of purpose can be observed from the beginning of time. A great example of this is a tree. A tree has many purposes that feed into its greater purpose. Another example is the sun.

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The Purpose of a Tree:

1. Oxygen

2. Shade

3. Fruit

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The Purpose of The Sun:

1. Separate the day from night

2. Mark the seasons, days, and years

3. Govern the day

4. Separate light from darkness

5. Give light to the earth

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The Multiplicity of Purpose in People

The multiplicity of Purpose is interconnected and complimentary. Let’s explore the lives of figures like Moses and Nelson Mandela. Both leaders utilized their unique mix of innate talents and acquired skills to navigate and influence the courses of their respective historical and cultural landscapes. Consider how the purposes driving each of their lives were interconnected and complimentary. 

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Examine the example below, which details the diverse purposes and inherent talents of Moses and Nelson Mandela. This infographic lays out how each leader's natural gifts and acquired skills contributed to fulfilling their overarching missions. Now reflect on Moses’s background as an Egyptian prince with military and leadership training, and his instinct for deliverance, compared to Mandela’s legal acumen and unwavering commitment to justice and equality. Consider how their unique capabilities enabled them to navigate and overcome complex challenges, ultimately achieving their life’s purposes in transformative ways.

 

Natural Gifts & Skills of Moses:

• Israelite by birth, raised as an Egyptian

• Prince of Egypt with military & leadership training

• Shepherd of Sheep (In the land of Midian)

• Natural deliverance instinct

 

The Purposes of Moses:

• Spokesman for God to the Pharaoh of Egypt

• Warrior of God (who by his uplifted hands brought victory over the Amalekites)

• Ambassador of God (who mediated between God and His people)

• Shepherd of People (who lead the Israelities out of Egypt)

• Lawgiver of God (who authored the first five books of the Bible)

Greater/ Overall Purpose of Moses: A Leader & Deliverer of God's people

 

Natural Gifts & Skills of Nelson Mandela:

• Orator

• Legal expertise and sharp intellect.

• Charismatic leadership and profound resilience.

• Deep commitment to justice and equality.

• Strategic political thinker and negotiator.

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The Purposes of Nelson Mandela:

• Anti-apartheid revolutionary.

• President of South Africa, fostering national reconciliation.

• Global advocate for human rights.

• Symbol of peace and perseverance against oppression.

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Greater/Overall Purpose of Nelson Mandela: A Leader and Liberator for equality and human dignity.