Proverbs 26:3

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about how hard it is to control a fool:

Proverbs 26:3

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the back of fools.

A horse is quite a large and powerful beast.    In order to move them and change their mind Solomon is telling us that we would have to use a whip to make them move or stop or turn.   For a donkey you might need less power but you still need something to make it move where you want it to go.   A bridle in the month will work fine.   But, you have to have something.   So, too, says Solomon does a fool need something to correct them.  They will not be corrected by mere words.  Even though truth is available they will not buy it, or listen to it if they do buy it.  Solomon is telling us that we will have to do some extreme measures to get the fool to take correction.  A time out does not work for the fool.   You need to drive the foolishness out of him.   Solomon tells us a rod for the back of the fool might correct them in the same way a whip for horse or a bridle for a donkey does.   Don't expect simply words to change the heart of a fool.  You will need a stronger tool.  God often uses His mighty hand to correct a fool.  Remember, a fool is someone who denies God, or His authority in a life.   Notice the “whip” God used to correct Nebuchadnezzar after he inflated his ego to believe it was HE who built his kingdom:

Daniel 4:29-33 (ESV)

29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

That is a very large whip.  That is what God does for those who do not recognize God and will not heed His correction.