So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. 2 Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother’s brother. 3 May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. 4 May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham.” 5 Then Isaac sent Jacob on his way, and he went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, who was the mother of Jacob and Esau. Genesis 28:1-5

In a turn of events, Isaac blessed Jacob a second time, this time knowing exactly who he was blessing. Since Isaac believed he was on his death bed, it would only be fair for them to say their last good byes, but that wasn’t actually the case. Isaac would live another 40 years! Isaac’s advice to Jacob was solid though: go and marry from your mother’s side of the family. Jacob wasn’t even married yet and Isaac was blessing him with many generations of children.

Any time you have the opportunity to pray a blessing over someone, do it. Sometimes you can do it with them fully aware that you’re doing it, and others it might be as they go on their way.

Blessing friends and family is always a good thing.