Orlah: The Hidden Biblical Law That Unlocks God’s Blessings In Your Life
When was the last time you thought about Orlah? Chances are, you haven’t. But what if this ancient biblical principle holds the key to unlocking divine favor, abundance, and spiritual insight?
Many believers today overlook the deep significance of Orlah, a command given by God in the Torah. Yet, Yeshua (Jesus) Himself upheld the Torah, and understanding its principles can lead to a powerful breakthrough in your walk with God.
Let’s uncover this profound command, see its spiritual meaning, and discover how it still applies today.
What Is Orlah? The Command Hidden in Plain Sight
Orlah is a Torah command found in the Old Testament:
“When you come into the land and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten.” – Leviticus 19:23
This means that the fruit of a tree cannot be eaten during its first three years. In the fourth year, the fruit is holy and given to the Lord. Only in the fifth year can people partake of it.
But why would God give such a command? What could be the deeper spiritual meaning behind Orlah?
Orlah in the Teachings of Jesus: The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Many don’t realize that Yeshua spoke about a similar concept in His parables.
“A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. So he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down! Why should it use up the ground?’” – Luke 13:6-7
This aligns perfectly with Orlah! For three years, fruit trees were not to be harvested. In the parable, the tree was expected to bear fruit after three years, just as God’s law commanded.
Yeshua was teaching a deeper truth: there is a time of preparation before something becomes useful for the Kingdom of God.
The Spiritual Meaning of Orlah: Are You Rushing God’s Timing?
So what does Orlah mean for us today?
- God’s Timing Matters – Just as trees must mature before bearing fruit, we also go through a season of preparation before we are ready for God’s calling.
- Spiritual Growth Takes Time – You may want immediate results in your faith, finances, or ministry, but sometimes God is saying, “Wait, I am still growing you.”
- Dedicate the First Fruits to God – In the fourth year, the fruit was holy to the Lord. This principle teaches that our first and best always belong to Him.
Orlah and the Firstfruits Offering: What Jesus Said About Giving to God First
The fourth-year fruit was dedicated to the Lord. This principle aligns with what Yeshua taught:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” – Matthew 6:33
Before we consume the blessings of our labor, we are called to dedicate the best portion to God. This is the essence of Orlah.
Are you giving God your first and best? Or are you taking what belongs to Him?
The Curse of Ignoring Orlah: Why Rushing the Process Leads to Destruction
The Bible warns against consuming fruit before its time. Adam and Eve made this mistake in the Garden of Eden:
“But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it, you will surely die.” – Genesis 2:17
They took what was not yet given to them—and it led to death. The same principle applies today. When we rush God’s timing, we can destroy the blessings He has prepared for us.
How many people have destroyed their marriages, finances, or ministries because they weren’t willing to wait?
How to Apply Orlah in Your Life Today
If you want to unlock the blessings of Orlah, here’s what you must do:
✅ Be Patient in Your Season of Preparation – Don’t rush the process; let God develop you before expecting fruit.
✅ Dedicate Your First Fruits to God – Your finances, time, and talents belong to Him first.
✅ Trust God’s Timing – He knows when you are ready to bear fruit.
Yeshua said:
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” – John 15:2
Let Him prune you. Let Him grow you. And in time, you will bear abundant fruit.
Final Thought: Are You Willing to Wait for God’s Best?
Orlah isn’t just an ancient agricultural law. It’s a spiritual principle that determines whether you will walk in blessing or frustration.
Will you honor God’s timing? Or will you rush ahead and take what is not yet yours?
The choice is yours.
Let the lesson of Orlah guide your steps, and you will step into a season of divine abundance.
Are you ready to trust God’s perfect timing?
