Standing in the Gap: What Does It Mean to Be a Godly Man?

In a world filled with confusion about masculinity and manhood, God’s Word provides clear direction. The question isn’t what society says makes a man, but what Scripture reveals about godly manhood.

The Search for Godly Men

In Ezekiel 22:30, God declares: “And I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it. But I found none.” This verse reveals God’s solution to societal problems – not government programs or church initiatives, but godly men willing to stand in the gap.

What Was Happening in Ezekiel’s Time?

Ezekiel’s society mirrors our own in troubling ways:

• Violence was everywhere (the word “bloody” appears seven times in verses 2-8)

• Idolatry was rampant – people placed other things before God

• Family structures were breaking down – children dishonored parents

• The church was pushed aside – Sabbaths were profaned

• Leaders were corrupt, priests were unholy, and officials were dishonest

 

Sound familiar? Yet God’s solution wasn’t political reform or religious programs. He sought for a man – specifically, one who would “make up the hedge and stand in the gap.”

What Is a Biblical Man?

To understand godly manhood, we must return to God’s original design in Genesis. A man is:

A Creation of God

Genesis 1:27 tells us “God created man in his own image.” Being a man isn’t a social construct or personal choice – it’s God’s design. Men shouldn’t apologize for being men; God made them exactly as they are for a purpose.

An Image Bearer of God

Men bear the image of God Almighty. This means tremendous dignity and responsibility. When you think you don’t matter much, remember – you meant enough for God to create you in His image.

Filled with the Breath of God

Genesis 2:7 shows that real manhood comes when God breathes life into a person. Real men spend time with God. It’s not about religious performance or knowing more Bible trivia than your wife – it’s about having the breath of God on your life.

Three Responsibilities of Godly Men

God gave Adam three primary responsibilities that define biblical manhood:

Real Men Work

Genesis 2:15 says God “took the man and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” Work isn’t a curse – it’s part of God’s original design. “Dress it” means to labor, and “keep it” means to guard and protect.

God created men with a heart to work. If a man won’t work, he’s not acting like a man but like a boy. The danger comes when men don’t work – as seen with King David in 2 Samuel 11. When David stayed home instead of going to battle (his work), it led to adultery, murder, and deception.

Real Men Live Under God’s Authority

Genesis 2:16-17 shows God giving Adam commands. Real men don’t do whatever they want – they do what the Bible says. This is what standing in the gap looks like.

Notice that God’s commands aren’t primarily negative. He told Adam he could freely eat from every tree in the garden except one. God’s restrictions protect us and our families, just as He protected Adam by warning him about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Real Men Honor Women

Genesis 2:18 records God saying, “It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a help meet for him.” Marriage bears God’s image – the closest resemblance to our triune God is found in marriage where two become one with God.

God established the divine order: a man leaves his parents, cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh. This order matters. When followed correctly, it leads to intimacy without shame. When violated, it brings guilt and brokenness.

The Enemy’s Strategy

The enemy wants to destroy biblical manhood because if he succeeds, he has free reign to attack homes, churches, and communities. This doesn’t mean men are better than women, but it acknowledges the unique responsibility God has given to men.

We’ve spent too long trying to make men act like women in church. Men are warriors by design. Jesus wasn’t soft – He flipped tables, spoke with authority, and faced death threats. The disciples weren’t perfect religious men – they were fishermen who made mistakes but never quit following Jesus.

What Standing in the Gap Means

Standing in the gap doesn’t mean dying for your family – most men would gladly do that. It means living for them according to God’s Word. It means:

• Working to provide and build

• Obeying God’s commands and leading your family in truth

• Loving and protecting the women in your life

• Standing for what’s right regardless of cultural pressure

 

Life Application

Your Challenge This Week

Commit to being the man God created you to be, not what society says you should be. This means:

• Work with purpose – Whether at a job, in retirement, or in ministry, engage in meaningful work that honors God

• Submit to Scripture – When God’s Word speaks, obey it regardless of cultural trends

• Honor the women in your life – Treat your wife, daughters, mother, and sisters with the respect they deserve as image-bearers of God

 

Questions for Reflection

• Are your hobbies more important than your relationship with God?

• Do you work with the understanding that God created you for meaningful labor?

• When God’s Word conflicts with cultural norms, which do you follow?

• How are you standing in the gap for your family, church, and community?

• What would change in your life if you truly committed to biblical manhood?

 

The question isn’t whether you’re perfect – none of us are. The question is: Will you stand in the gap? Will you be the man God created you to be for such a time as this? Your family, church, and community need godly men who will stand firm on God’s Word regardless of what the world says. The time to stand is now.