Broken to Beautiful

Published January 7, 2026

Genesis 27-34

Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | Barbie McMath

I have friends that can see great potential in aged, dirty, and scarred things, such as a door, table, or lamp. They embrace the imperfections in these items and use them to create beautiful and useful pieces. Often, these imperfections make the piece more valuable once repurposed or restored.

In Genesis, chapters 27-34, we see God use the deceit, greed, hatred, and/or jealousy of Jacob, Rebekah, Esau, Laban, Leah, and Rachel. He takes these broken people and uses them to weave together the continuation of His promise to Abraham and Isaac. God in his mercy pursues and blesses Jacob.

In Genesis 28 verses 12-15, Jacob dreams about the heavens being opened and angels ascending and descending a ladder placed upon the earth. In this dream, God promises to fulfill His promise to Abraham via Jacob and his descendants.

In John 1:51, we see that Jesus is the ladder the connects heaven and earth. As our divine mediator, Jesus makes a way to God, despite our brokenness.

What a blessing to see once again that God uses messed up sinful people to fulfill His purposes. This is a reminder that no matter what you have done, or what has been done to you, the Lord can still use all circumstances for your good and His glory.

We see in Genesis, chapter 32, Jacob wrestles with God all night. During this God gives Jacob a new name - He calls him Israel. When Jacob reaches Canaan, he builds an altar for the first time to the God of Israel. I can’t help but think this is when Jacob truly surrendered to the Lord. Unlike those that restore broken things, our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, still restores broken people and makes them beautiful.

MORE DEVOTIONALS WALK IN THE WAY RESOURCES