Bible verses about purpose
The verse most often quoted about God having plans was posted to exiles, who were told in the same letter to build houses where they were and to pray for the city that had deported them. These passages are set out with a sentence on each.
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today. — Genesis 50:20 · WEB
The book ends with the deepest sentence in it about God and evil, and then with a body waiting in a box for a promise not yet kept.
For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” — Esther 4:14 · WEB
Esther states the risk exactly and Mordecai answers with three sentences, the last of which is a question rather than a claim.
Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me. Your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don’t forsake the works of your own hands. — Psalm 138:8 · WEB
A short thanksgiving with a large claim in the middle: the high God's attention is on the low.
Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. — Psalm 139:16 · WEB
A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps. — Proverbs 16:9 · WEB
The densest cluster about God in the whole collection sits here, and it is about the gap between what a man intends and what happens.
Read the comment on A Man Plans His Way and Yahweh Directs His Steps
There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail. — Proverbs 19:21 · WEB
Read the comment on He Who Has Pity on the Poor Lends to Yahweh
everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.’” — Isaiah 43:7 · WEB
“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” — Jeremiah 1:5 · WEB
Jeremiah is not invited to be a prophet but told that he already is one, and the objection he raises is answered with a presence and a set of words rather than with any improvement in him.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says Yahweh, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. — Jeremiah 29:11 · WEB
The exiles are told to build, marry and pray for the city that deported them, and the promise of a future is given to people who will mostly die abroad.
For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, was laid with his fathers, and saw decay. — Acts 13:36 · WEB
Read the comment on You will not allow your Holy One to see decay
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. — Romans 8:28 · WEB
All things work for the called, the chain runs from foreknowing to glory in five unbroken links, and the destination is family likeness.
Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God. — Romans 12:2 · WEB
The third great therefore asks for bodies on the altar, and the alternative to conformity is a renewed mind that can test the will of God.
Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. — 1 Corinthians 10:31 · WEB
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them. — Ephesians 2:10 · WEB
Three verses that exclude works and then command them, and the order between the two is the whole point.
being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. — Philippians 1:6 · WEB
The confidence is not in the Philippians' persistence but in the character of whoever started the project.
For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. — Philippians 2:13 · WEB
The command and its reason look contradictory until the preposition is read — God works in, so they work out.