Question

How might the statement "The Almighty has his own purposes"(Line 39) relate to Lincoln's purpose in giving the speech?

Answer 1

Lincoln's purpose is to unite the Nation. Even though the Civil War was close to it's end, with the Union side clearly overpowering the south, it wasn't all so certain yet, this was Lincoln second and last term, ending the war as soon as possible was the first priority of his administration. The president noticed that both North and South pray, they both read the same bible and they both believe in the same God, therefore he used a biblical quote in his speech, so both sides could note it.

Answer 2

The purpose of the speech was to talk about the war and the differences in the north and the south. The quote there is important because he believed that the war was punishment from god for having slavery. Because history went the way it did, both north and south were at fault and the war was a way of punishing people for ever having slavery as an institution.