He that spareth the rod, hateth his son

I've heard some say that the "rod" is actually not referring to a rod, but just discipline in general. But if you look at strongs concordance and the other times its used, its clear the meaning here is a rod or stick. Now they may say, well the "rod" symbolised discipline. It is true that a rod can represent something, like Moses rod, splitting the rock, represented the Mosaic Law affecting Christ. But where there is a shadow, there has to be a real image. The rod was used to discipline and represented discipline. Just imagine what modern day disciplanarians would say about what was commanded to be done to the individual collecting sticks on the sabbath. Todays view is that every MAN is the most important thing, whereas the Truth is that GOD and HIS INSTRUCTIONS are the most important thing, and the only thing that brings life.