Regret: How to Move ForwardSample

Day 2: You Can’t Change the Past

The Bible is full of rich examples from which we can draw wisdom, including numerous cases of regret. Today we’re going to take a look at the life of Esau and the immense regret he had in his life.

Esau was Abraham’s grandson. He was also the firstborn son of Isaac and twin brother to Jacob. As the firstborn son, Esau was entitled to inherit the birthright from his father. The birthright meant that Esau would get a double portion of the inheritance Isaac would leave when he died. It also meant that Esau would carry on as head of household and be in charge of the family and family property.

This was a highly valued privilege and honor. However, Esau did not place the same value on it that it deserved. Esau was a hunter and outdoorsman. He was pretty much a “man’s man." Jacob, on the other hand, liked to do things around the house more. They were twins, but their personalities were pretty different. One day Esau was hungry from being out in the country, and Jacob was cooking stew. Esau demanded the stew, but Jacob offered to give it to him in exchange for his birthright. Esau agreed and ate the stew. 

In that moment Esau did not consider how important his birthright was in relation to how important eating the stew was. All he cared about was satisfying his stomach. He was very short-sighted.

The Bible says that when Esau wanted to inherit his blessing, he was rejected even though he sought it with tears. He couldn’t change what he had done. Here’s this manly, hairy, hunting outdoorsman crying his eyes out from the pain of regret. Regret can bring anyone to their knees.

Just as Esau could not change what he had done, neither can we. Even though he knew better later, and even though sometimes we finally see the light, we cannot change the past, no matter how much we cry or how much we wish we could. Esau’s example shows us that we have to get to the place where we can accept that what we did or didn’t do cannot be changed. 

Take some time to grieve over the regret, but know that you can’t stay there forever. The longer you stay, the longer it will be before you can move forward.