“A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!”
Yikes! Can I just go with no thanks? None of those three options seem all that appealing. We have an underground fence for our Lab. We trained him as a young dog that when he hears the beeping in his collar it means to stop moving in that direction. If he goes further he will get a quick shock. Some think it’s cruel. However, without it he would tend to roam and with coyotes and a busy county road nearby it actually protects him from far more dangerous possibilities. He can roam freely, and safely on about 3 acres of woods and country. Solomon is reminding us that all creatures require a certain level of guidance and restraint according to its nature. If I could reason with Oscar the dog I wouldn’t need the fence. The same goes with horses, donkeys and other critters. In the same way there comes a point where a person cannot be reasoned with. They determine to follow their desires regardless of possible consequences to themselves and others. Out of love a parent disciplines a child. In the same way it is out of a deep love that God disciplines His children, us. Sadly there are those who go into a rebellion that leaves only the harshest of discipline to hopefully save their lives physically, mentally and socially. Ultimately the goal is to rescue them spiritually. Here is the deal, learn your lesson when you hear the beep. If not then at least learn it after the zap. Today if God disciplines you learn the lesson quickly. #BeTheEdge
“because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”Hebrews 12:6 NIV
