This story is about the craving of human beings for love and recognition, and the cost of acquiring it. No doubt, Leah thought, “If I only had my sister’s beauty and the love of my husband as she does.” No doubt, Rachel thought, “If I only had sons like my sister.” Beautiful or plain, we all have our burdens. But the root of it all is that Jacob did not have a spiritual home. So his wives fought viciously and used him as a pawn (Genesis 30:14-16). We read of no altar in Jacob’s life here, and the sad results are clear to see. Can God possibly work His plan through such dysfunctional families like this and others in Genesis? He can, and he does. That should give all of us hope for our families. God has the ability to transform our brokenness and use it to further His purposes. He also has a way of using our dysfunction to deepen our devotion to Him.