Genesis 48:15
And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
Jacob blessed Joseph by reverently laying hands on heads to ask God to bless them, in the customary way a Jewish father blessed his children, and specifically laid his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh to bless the lads. The same laying on of hands later asked God to bless Paul and Barnabas as they devoted themselves to their appointed work, recognizing their calling rather than imparting a new qualification. The blessing belongs to Jacob's old age when he dwelt in Canaan while famine was severely felt there, so that his family lacked food and ten of his sons had to journey to Egypt to buy grain from the abundant provision made there.
In the blessing Jacob addresses God as the God before whom his fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, and as the God who fed, provided for, preserved, supported and cared for Jacob himself every day all his life long unto that day. Spoken near the end of his life, at death and at life's evening, the blessing looks back over his life history to recognize God's sustaining power, bringing light after darkness. There is no complaint about past evil days, no longer counting trials and sorrows as against him, but remembering only mercy and loving-kindness with him throughout his pilgrimage.
That review follows fraud to gain the birthright, reaping his brother's hatred, twenty years of exile being wronged and defrauded, flight for safety, and seeing the evils of his own character reproduced in his sons. It also follows repentance, endeavor to atone to his brother, seeking God when threatened with death, weeping supplication and prevailing over the Angel, blessing, deliverance from his brother and deliverance from himself, the breaking of evil in his nature, and transformation from supplanter to prince with God. The blessing expresses utter dependence on God, with no spirit of self-dependence and no reliance on human power or cunning, meaning that while reaping the fruit of his own thoughts and deeds Jacob was not overwhelmed because God sustained, healed, led, and restored comfort to him. It proves that God does not annul law or undo sin's work but transforms through grace, so that the curse works out a blessing and retribution gives way to righteousness unto life.