TD Jakes - Forensic of a Favor (02/17/2017)
Examining Joseph's profound grief over Jacob's death and the brothers' lingering guilt despite forgiveness and favor, the preacher reveals that true enjoyment of God's blessings requires self-forgiveness and embracing worthiness through grace—nothing external can overcome internal self-condemnation.
Joseph's Unique Grief
He lost a part of himself. Joseph was in some ways Jacob's Mini-Me. They were both blessed men of the same God, in the same way. And Joseph lost the one who believed in him, who believed in him before he was in the chariot. And when you find somebody who believes in you before, oh my God, that is a wonderful thing. I cannot even talk about that. Anybody can believe in you after. But if you got somebody who believed in you before, there is a special place for them.
And I almost read over it in the grief of the moment and the sadness of the situation. I almost read over it. But when I did forensics, when I did forensics and I started to slice the text, I had to get past this bond between Jacob and Joseph, and start asking questions. And my first question is, where are the other brothers? You were all around the bed when the blessings are passed out? How does Joseph weep alone for a father who had 12 sons?
If you can get one out of 12, if somebody gets you, do not hope for everybody to get you, but if somebody really appreciates, you have done well. Jacob blessed all of them, raised all of them, fed all of them. Why is the one who was not even at home doing the most weeping? The one he fed the least loved him the most. And the ones he did the most for gave him the least.
Capacity to Love
It was not that they were not there. Since they were there, they did not weep. They had to be there because they were gathered around the bed. Why are they not laying on his neck weeping? Joseph lost the most because Joseph had the capacity to love the most. Everything that knows how to live does not know how to love. The Bible says that Joseph fell on his neck and said, "I lost my father. I lost my inspiration. The one that was going to prove that you were not wrong when you gave me the coat of many colors, I really am who you think I am. I know I messed up and I was in jail, and I went through a whole lot of mess, and I got fired, and I lost my job, and I have been a slave and everything, but you were not wrong. Look, see Daddy, I made it. Daddy, I made it, Daddy, Daddy. I made it."
I was so distracted by who was weeping that I did not notice who was not. Notice who does not weep. Notice who has no natural affection. Notice who can see you suffering be indifferent and look the other way while you go through pain. Pay attention when those who should care do not. It tells you that there is something wrong.
[h2]Favor Extended to Jacob