By Pastor Dr. Shana Wise
King Asa
1 Kings 15:9-15 NIV
”In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa became king of Judah, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty-one years. His grandmother’s name was Maakah daughter of Abishalom. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as his father David had done. He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. He even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah. Asa cut it down and burned it in the Kidron Valley. Although he did not remove the high places, Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life. He brought into the temple of the Lord the silver and gold and the articles that he and his father had dedicated. “
Asa’s family lineage:
David-Righteous
Solomon-compromised
Rehoboam-evil
Abijam-evil
Maacah (grandmother, pagan worshipper)-evil
Asa-righteous
Jehoshaphat -righteous
King Asa was the one who decided that he would be the one to be the change-maker in his family’s lineage. His great-great-grandfather, King David was righteous, and he led the nation of Israel to worship God during his reign. Yet after King David died his son Solomon came to power.
King Solomon was a good king, but during his reign on the throne, he compromised his worship practices with the True and Living God by marrying pagan worshipping wives. 1 Kings 11:1-13 tells us about King Solomon's choosing to worship their gods and not to follow God’s laws. We also find that this displeased God and that there would be consequences for his actions including affecting the reign of his son King Rehoboam and his offspring.
King Solomon’s son Rehoboam (whose mother was a Naamah and Ammonite princess (pagan worshipper)) was not a good leader in the kingdom of Judah, and he displeased God.
1 Kings 14:22-24 Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than those who were before them had done. 23 They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 24 There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
King Rehoboam’s son King Abijam followed in his father and mother, Queen Maacah, ways by displeasing God through his pagan worship.
What does pagan worship look like?
Oxford's definition of a pagan: is a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main or recognized religions.
In this text, the people of Israel were worshipping outside the temple of God, they made their place, the men prostituted, and they did other things that the nations around them were doing.
Verse 23-24 They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 24 There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.
Other pagan worship in the bible (and today) included child and adult sacrifice, prostitution (men, women, and children), public sex, cutting themselves, witchcraft, sorcery, worshipping objects, people, and creatures, worshipping the constellation, having sex with animals, and other rituals that do not please God.
How does pagan worship in the family affect future generations?
Engaging in the listed activities above can bring forth curses, demonic activity, and other spiritual depravities that affect the soul. It hinders the blessing and prosperity of the current and future generations of the family.
Pagan worship also affects a nation. If the nation's leader is participating and encouraging pagan worship, then the people will follow. This leads to decay and stunts spiritual growth amongst the people, and it leads to the decline of morality in the nation.
How can we overcome generational bloodline trauma?
We can learn from King Asa and his response to pagan worship. Even though he was the son of King Rehoboam, he chose not to follow in his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather’s footsteps. He chose to follow his Heavenly Father’s ways.
Here is King Asa’s response, as a leader, to pagan worship in the land:
Verse 12-13, He expelled the male shrine prostitutes from the land and got rid of all the idols his ancestors had made. He even deposed his grandmother Maakah from her position as queen mother, because she had made a repulsive image for the worship of Asherah.
King Asa got rid of the things and people competing with worshipping The God of Israel -even dethroning his grandmother Queen Maakah!
King Asa chose to worship God and he encouraged the people. He was not a participant in his family’s past worship practices; he chose to participate in righteousness. Choosing to be righteous and teaching your family, and others how to do so, will cause you, your family, and the others around you to be blessed by trusting and worshipping God.
King Asa’s son was King Jehoshaphat. King Jehoshaphat chose to follow in his father’s footsteps of worshipping God and because of it, he was able to lead his people righteously and defeat his enemies. He was able to enjoy peace in the later reign of his kingship.
If you want to break the bloodline trauma in your life and family, decide today to follow and worship God. He can break generational curses and restore you and your future generation to the rightful position in Christ Jesus.
About the Author
Dr. Shana Wise is an ordained Pastor who founded and oversees Wise Choice Ministries with her husband Pastor Ron Wise. She is also the CEO and founder of The Well Christian Women’s Network. Dr. Wise is the author of Women’s Devotionals Acts of Intercession and Chief Women Arise, The Impact of Your Election, and the Basic Ministry Training Manual (all available on Amazon). She received a Doctor of Divinity degree in 2019 from St. Thomas Christian University. Her passion is to teach and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, equip others to apply the Word to their lives and demonstrate it through the power of the Holy Spirit. She is a televangelist who appears on social media outlets. Shana is married and has four children.
For speaking engagements email: wisechoiceministries512@gmail.com.
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Acts of Intercession
The Impact of Your Election
Basic Ministry Training Manual
Chief Women Arise
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