Middle school gym class. Did anyone else have shivers run down their spine? Those were the days, weren’t they? I can remember the pressure of having to dress out and the stress of making sure I knew the combination of my padlock. I practiced for a few nights before, not wanting to get stuck unable to open my locker to get my gym clothes. Three numbers. In sequence. The order mattered. If you got the right numbers, but in the wrong order, you were going to be locked out, unable to join the rest of your class.
As we’ve been studying the five sacrifices in Leviticus, I’m struck by the fact that they are given in a very specific order. They start with the burnt offering because the burnt offering makes atonement (Lev. 1:4). It’s a way of making payment for sin and purifying the space. The second offering was the grain offering and it was a way of saying back to God, “I trust you with my whole life.” The next sacrifice is the peace offering and in Leviticus 3:5 we read, “Then Aaron’s sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” On top of the burnt offering, that’s key. That means the burnt offering serves as a foundation for the other offerings – including the peace offering.
It’s important to note that the peace offering was not given to make peace with God, it was a way to mark ways that the people had experienced God’s peace. The peace offering was given in thanksgiving and as a way to say “thank you” for the fulfillment of a vow and answered prayer. However, peace was not possible without the burnt offering. Peace was not possible without atonement. The peace offering was not making peace, it was marking peace. The order matters.
As we seek to live as followers of Jesus, I’m reminded that the order matters for us too. We live in the truth that we have peace with God. In Romans 5:1 Paul wrote,
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have peace with God. We don’t bring an offering to get peace, we get to live a life in response to the peace that has been purchased for us by the blood of Jesus. He is our burnt offering. That happened first, and now we get to live in response to his grace. The order matters.
In light of the fact that you have peace with God, throughout your day try to notice signs of his peace, wholeness, and well-being. Notice his fingerprints in your life and then pause to offer a sacrifice of praise.
Ryan Paulson