Jacob’s prophetical blessings of his twelve sons: his death.
We see how the sons of Israel are given blessing or curse, depending on their conduct.
“Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel your father.” (Genesis 49:2)
“See the good man’s shrewdness. Since he foresaw the moment of his death, he summoned his sons and said, ‘Gather around so that I may predict ahead of time what is in store for you at the end of your days. Come together, and listen to Israel your father.’ Come along, he says, and learn from me, not the immediate future but what will happen in the last days. This I foretell to you not of myself but under the inspiration of the Spirit; hence I predict ahead of time what will occur after many generations. You see, as I am on the point of departing this life, I want to imprint it on the memory of each of you as if on some bronze pillar. Now consider how with his sons gathered together the good man follows the order of their birth and in this way bestows curse or blessing appropriate to each, showing by this procedure the extraordinary degree of his own virtue.” – St. John Chrysostom
We can expect to receive blessing when our ways are in accord with God’s laws and Christ being the way, the truth and the life.
“I call heaven and earth to witness this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose therefore life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
The 4th commandment to honor your father and mother has an attached blessing.
“Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest be longlived upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee.” (Exodus 20:12)
Discussion: Have you seen the lives of those who honor their father and mother being blessed?
Women's Prayer Group In Christ 