So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

Genesis 3:6

In the early verses of Genesis 3 we read of a conversation in the Garden of Eden, a most unusual conversation between a crafty serpent and the first woman. One question that occurs is this: Where is Adam during all of this?

Genesis 3:6b gives us the astounding answer: "She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate." He was with her? You're kidding! Adam was right there the whole time and didn't say a word?

He should have been right in the thick of things: "Whoa! Just wait a minute snake! That's not what God said. That's not what he said at all. He didn't say that we couldn't eat from any tree in the garden but that we could eat from any tree except one. And God is good to us. He's not depriving us of anything. Just get out of here! We're not going to listen to this stuff! In fact, where's my shovel! We'll put a stop to this nonsense right now!"

Adam should have been engaged, active, fighting the battle, defending his wife, loyal to his God. But he wasn't. Instead, Adam was apparently silent, passive and withdrawn.

Tragically, so many men since Adam have been silent, passive, withdrawn. So many men have been preoccupied with work and career, with houses and hobbies, while the great spiritual battle rages on without them.

Our role as men, our calling as men and husbands and fathers, is to fight the battle! Our calling is to be active and engaged, to defend our wives, our children, our friends, our people, our churches, our communities. We fight the battle with spiritual weapons, with prayer and the Word of God, trusting in the Spirit of God. Our wives need us to be in the battle. Our children need us. Our church needs us.

Men, fight this battle! Pray daily for protection for your family, for your church, for your loved ones. Stand against the enemy in Christ's strength. Wherever the battle erupts, be active and involved and engaged. Be Christ's loyal soldier in the great cosmic battle.

Satan would have you succumb to the silent, passive, withdrawn way of Adam. Reject this wimpy approach. That is not your destiny. That is not who God made you to be!