Main Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Introduction: God Is Still in Control
When life goes off-script, we ask:
“God, where are You in this?”
The answer?
He’s right in the middle of it. Even when it looks like chaos, God is orchestrating a greater plan.
1. God’s Plan May Start in the Pit but Ends in the Palace
Joseph: From Pit to Prime Minister
Joseph had a dream from God—but the journey toward that dream was anything but easy.
- Genesis 37: Rejected by his own brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold as a slave.
- Genesis 39: Falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison.
- Genesis 41: Interprets Pharaoh’s dream and is promoted to Prime Minister of Egypt.
Genesis 50:20 – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
Joseph’s story reminds us:
Man’s rejection can’t cancel God’s direction.
Every step—even the painful ones—was part of the plan.
2. God Uses Rejection as Redirection
David: Anointed but Overlooked
When the prophet Samuel came to anoint the next king, Jesse didn’t even invite David to the lineup.
He was forgotten by his own father—but not by God.
1 Samuel 16:7 – “The Lord does not look at the things people look at… the Lord looks at the heart.”
- David is anointed, but he goes back to the fields.
- He faces Goliath, serves Saul, is hunted, hides in caves.
- But in God’s time, the promise is fulfilled.
2 Samuel 5:3-4 – “They anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he became king.”
Though rejected by men, David was handpicked by God.
Point: Just because you’re not chosen by people doesn’t mean you’re not chosen by God.
3. The Road to Destiny Often Includes Delay and Difficulty
God doesn’t rush development. He prepares us in the dark before He promotes us in the light.
- Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness before stepping into leadership.
- Jesus lived 30 years in obscurity before 3 years of public ministry.
Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
What you see as a delay may actually be divine preparation.
God doesn’t waste pain—He uses it to shape you for the place He’s taking you.
4. Promotion Comes from God, Not People
Psalm 75:6-7 – “For promotion comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He puts down one, and sets up another.”
Joseph didn’t network his way into the palace.
David didn’t campaign for kingship.
They trusted the One who called them—and in due time, He lifted them.
1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.”
Conclusion: Trust God in the Middle of the Story
You may feel overlooked, under pressure, or like your dream is on life support.
But here’s the promise:
God’s plan still stands.
What He started, He will finish.
Rejection will not define you—God’s word will.
If Joseph hadn’t been sold… he wouldn’t have saved a nation.
If David hadn’t been in the fields… he wouldn’t have learned to fight Goliath.
If Jesus hadn’t been crucified… we wouldn’t have salvation.
Declaration:
“I may not understand the process, but I trust the Planner.”
“Even when rejected by man, I know I’m chosen by God.”
“I trust that the pit is not my ending—the palace is part of my purpose.”
Prayer:
“Father, thank You that Your plans for us are good, even when they unfold in unexpected ways. Strengthen our trust when we’re in the pit, when we’re overlooked, or when we’re misunderstood. We declare that promotion comes from You, and in Your time, we will see Your promise fulfilled. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
QUOTES:
And notice, here’s another thing, you Gentile people now according to the Seed of the Elect, Joseph was given a Gentile bride. He was rejected of his brother, and turned and took a Gentile bride. Is that right? He gave him, Pharaoh gave him the priest of Or, daughter, for a bride. And he married a Gentile woman, that produced Ephraim and Manasses, which was joint heirs into the kingdom, into the patriarchic promise. 173 Notice how perfect that Jesus, rejected of the Jews, sent back the Holy Spirit, and they laughed at them and made fun of them, and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.” Is that right? 174 And Jesus said, “You can blaspheme Me, and get by with it; but if you speak one word against the Holy Ghost, it’ll never be forgiven you.” 175 And those Jews come up there, and said, “Well, those men are full of new wine, ha, ha, ha,” and made fun of them. And not no more than thirty years, or better, from then, till Titus besieged the walls and they eat one another’s children, and they massacred them and burnt the temple, according to God’s Word. And it’s never been raised, until the days of the Gentiles be done. And there I’m fixing to visit Jerusalem in the next few weeks, and there that old ruins, and the weeping wall’s there. Where that they been scattered all over the world, because God told them that they would do it, and they come down and did it. That’s right. Oh, my! To think of the—the curse of rejecting the Holy Ghost! Now, the Holy Spirit was poured out, and they rejected It. 176 And when the Jews rejected It, the Gentiles received It, which was a type of the Bride. He said He would call a people out of the Gentiles, for His Name. 177 That little girl sitting back there, used to be a Broy, but she’s a Branham now, she’s my wife. 178 And the—the Bride of Jesus Christ will be Mrs. Jesus Christ (Hallelujah!), baptized in His Spirit, in His Name, filled with His power, robed in His righteousness. Hallelujah! There She is. And now notice, that was the Gentile Bride.
   53-0325 – Israel And The Church #1
Rev. William Marrion Branham
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