The man’s calling in relationship to the woman is reaffirmed throughout redemptive history. Man is tasked in Scripture with spiritual and institutional leadership (Lev. 4:22; Judg. 11:6; 2 Sam. 23:2-4; 1 Kings 14:7; 1 Chron. 15:27; Neh. 11:17; Eph. 5:23; 1 Tim. 2:12-14; 3:1-8; Titus 1:5-9), as the physical and spiritual protector (2 Chron. 17:13; Jer. 41:16; Eph. 5:25-27; Philem. 2; 2 Tim. 4:1-2), and provider (Prov. 10:4; 12:24; 21:5 [Proverbs are addressed to Solomon’s son]; 1 Tim. 5:8; 2 Thess. 3:6-12). Sadly, however, these essential qualities of godly manhood are under direct assault today from both outside and inside the church.

On a weekend in early February, I had the privilege of speaking to about sixty men at a men’s retreat in Mendocino County, California. We all enjoyed encouraging fellowship, ate some excellent food, and worshipped the living God together. Some of us even found time to shoot guns, hike the nearby trails, and smack the golf ball around. It was a wonderful time.

I spoke to the men about the essential aspects of godly manhood. In relation to women, God has created men and recreated men in Christ to lead, protect, and provide for those under their care. These responsibilities are not a mere cultural hangover from a patriarchal era of history. No, God established these responsibilities for men at the beginning of creation.

God Made Men to Lead

For example, the very fact that man was created before the woman indicates that he bears the unique responsibility to lead in relation to her (see Gen. 2:7; cf. 1:26-27). In his first letter to Timothy, Paul restricts the authoritative teaching role in the church only to men, grounding his statements in this order of creation. “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve” (1 Tim. 2:12-13; emphasis added). When God created Adam, he was signaling to the universe that he had vested man, by virtue of his manhood, with the responsibility of leadership in relation to the woman (see also 1 Cor. 11:6-8).

God Made Men to Provide

But we also see in the Genesis narrative that God tasked the man with providing for the woman. Immediately after God created Adam he placed him in the Garden of Eden to “work it and to keep it” (Gen. 2:15). Adam’s “work” would have included cultivation of the garden and many other aspects related to exercising dominion (see Gen. 1:26-31). Work and the responsibility to provide material sustenance for his family would be a fundamental aspect of the man’s existence. This truth is re-affirmed throughout Scripture (see below).

God Made Men to Protect

The word translated “keep” is used in the Old Testament to refer to protecting others. For example, after David crept undetected into and out of Saul’s camp, he rebuked Abner (the soldier charged with protecting Saul) for allowing a breach in the perimeter. David uses the word translated “keep” in Genesis 2:15 twice in his admonition to Abner.

Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them. And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, “Will you not answer, Abner?” Then Abner answered, “Who are you who calls to the king?” And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’S anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.” (1 Sam. 26:13-16; emphasis added)

Abner was worthy of death because he failed to “keep watch” over Saul; David could have killed Saul had he wanted to. Similarly, God tasked Adam to “keep” the garden. This means Adam was to guard the garden from intruders. This protection would be physical, of course, but it would also be spiritual.

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