“Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.” (Mic 7:14 AV)
Seems like an odd request, doesn’t it? Especially when we consider what the shepherd’s rod was used for. With the shepherd’s rod, there is also the king’s rod and the father’s rod. The rod was used for three things. The hook at the end was used to gather a sheep back into the fold. The straight end was used to prod the sheep along the path in which he was supposed to go. In some cases, the straight end was also used to correct an errant sheep. This rod was also used to dissuade predators from attacking the sheep. This rod was not used as a source of comfort. It was used for the governing of the sheep. The king’s rod and the father’s rod were used for the same purpose. The king’s rod was his scepter of authority. The rod represented an unbending law that he would apply to those he governed. A father’s rod was used for the chastening of the erring child. In both of these cases, the rod was not used as a source of comfort. Rather, it was used as a source of affliction. So again, I ask you, kind of an odd request, isn’t it? The request speaks to the maturity of the one seeking it. A child would not ask to be guided, restrained, or corrected. In their nature, they would wander as far from a rod as they could. Only a mature sheep would seek that which is best for him even though affliction is part of it.
Over the years, I have met many who have enlisted for different reasons. There is the young man or woman who needed a direction in life. Going into the military was a way to learn a trade and get paid for it. Often, these people used the GI Bill to advance their education so that when they were discharged, they had life skills and education to apply in life. There were others who wanted what they thought was freedom. Some were fleeing the oppressive nature of their homes. An abusive parent or guardian was the influence they were escaping. Still others were fleeing an authoritarian home; or at least one they perceived as such; to the military that wouldn’t have a whole lot of rules. Did they ever get a wake-up call? Some believed the commercial and joined the Navy to see the world. Sometimes, there would be a recruit who signed up for purely patriotic reasons. They love their country and were thrilled to serve her. Then there was that odd individual who joined because they knew they needed more discipline. One thing is common with most military. Regardless of the motive for joining, they did appreciate the discipline they learned while serving. This created life-long habits that carried well beyond their term of service. The rod of discipline, training, and purpose served them in the civilian world like nothing else would. And for that, are grateful.
Israel would have learned a great deal before they asked for the rod. They would have learned their way didn’t work. They would have learned God was right all along. They would have learned there are consequences for sin and the cost of doing right is always less. They would have learned the emptiness that came with compromise. The friends they thought they had in their heathen neighbors became their enemies. Like the prodigal, they would have come to the end of themselves and realized the rod of God isn’t all that bad. They would have concluded even though the rod of God can be difficult at times, the alternative was far worse. Most of all, they would have concluded the rod of God was how God would bring them up. A desire for maturity is what drives this request. Until we come to the conclusion remaining a child is not satisfying, we will not seek the rod of God. Only when we see what we are and desire what God wants us to be, we will never seek the rod of God. What we seek reveals where we are. So, seek the rod of God and grow into the child of God He wants you to be.
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