In normal functioning of household power supply, the current flows through the hot and the neutral wire. Why does it not take the path of the ground rod, even when the ground rod, neutral wire and the ground wire are all connected to the same neutral bar? I think this is because to complete the circuit the current would have to flow from the ground making it the path of very high resistance.
But, why then does the current flow through the ground rod when lightning strikes the breaker box? Shouldn't current follow a path of low resistance, and travel through the hot and neutral wires?