In today’s first reading we see the plan of the Lord to rescue, to liberate the tribes of Jacob from enslavement in Egypt. And everyone has regrets. Pharaoh is realizing the implications of letting the Israelites go – maybe he should have let them go into the desert for three days as Moses first requested (Exodus 3:18). Pharaoh believes he has made a foolish choice and regrets it even in the moment – and will regret it more as the events of the Exodus unfold.The people are none-too-happy. They have their own regrets: “And they complained to Moses, “Were there no burial places in Egypt that you had to bring us out here to die in the desert? Why did you do this to us? Why did you bring us out of Egypt? This is one of many regrets that the people will express during their years of the Exodus.

We all have regrets. Even God has regrets: “When the LORD saw how great the wickedness of human beings was on earth, and how every desire that their heart conceived was always nothing but evil, the LORD regretted making human beings on the earth, and his heart was grieved.” (Gen 6:5-6)  The word used in Hebrew means to be sorry about something in a way that underscores a clear understanding of what is at stake. It shares a linguistic root with the verb “to sigh” and that perhaps also captures what God ‘feels.” This does not mean that the Lord felt that He made a mistake in creating human beings, but that His heart was sorrowful as He witnessed the direction they were going.  I am sure there were lots of divine sighs as He watched over the tribes of Jacob. Considering God knows everything beforehand, before the diving sigh. He knows our choices will cause Him grief. Yet He is ever there for us – even in His regret.

Human regret is different from God’s regret. Human regret occurs because we do not know all things and we make mistakes. As we age, we often look back on decisions made in youth and regret our choices. However, those regrets usually fall into one of two categories. Our regrets arise from either foolish choices or sinful choices, and each requires a different response.

Some people look back at their choice of college major. At the time thought it was a good choice, but later conclude it was a wrong or foolish choice. Perhaps, but it is certainly not sin. We can always ask God to make good come from the choice we made (Romans 8:28 – “We know that all things work for good for those who love God,* who are called according to his purpose.”

Regret arising from sinful choices is another matter. These choices may have left scars and consequences of their sin for themselves and regret over the harm caused for others. The regret can lead to subsequent decisions we would not otherwise make – and perhaps the spiral continues downward. Who knows where those paths may lead?

We know the path that God wants for us: repentance. It’s important to understand that regret is not the same as repentance. Regret focuses on the action that has brought sorrow; repentance focuses on the one we have offended. Second Corinthians 7:10 explains the difference between mere regret and true repentance: “For godly sorrow produces a salutary repentance without regret, but worldly sorrow produces death.” (2 Cor 7:10) Rather than allow the regret to win, we can allow God to transform us so that our past sin choices magnify His powerful grace.

Regret, even after repentance and transformation by God’s grace, can linger in the memory. It serves as a reminder of choices and behaviors not to repeat, but it can lead some to question if God has really forgiven their sins. Regret lingers in the memory, but do not doubt the grace and forgiveness of God.

The sons and daughters of Jacob regret their decision to follow Moses. Was it a foolish choice? Will their regret lead them to sinful choices? Will they hang in there to allow all thing to work for the good in the love of God? It is the story of Exodus.

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