Joshua 11:10–15 (ESV)

And Joshua turned back at that time and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms. And they struck with the sword all who were in it, devoting them to destruction; there was none left that breathed. And he burned Hazor with fire. And all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, Joshua captured, and struck them with the edge of the sword, devoting them to destruction, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded. But none of the cities that stood on mounds did Israel burn, except Hazor alone; that Joshua burned. And all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the people of Israel took for their plunder. But every person they struck with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and they did not leave any who breathed. Just as the LORD had commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.

Notice that only Hazor is burned. As with Jericho and Ai, Hazor gets this unique treatment. The orchards and livestock of all the other cities are preserved. Unlike the chariots and war horses, those things will be useful going forward. This fulfills Deuteronomy 6:10–11a.

“And when the LORD your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—” (ESV)

This makes a tough point about God’s purposes. He created all those people for the purpose of building things that the Israelites will take. That may not be the only purpose, but it’s the one scripture highlights.

We’ve seen this bit about purposes before. God created Pharoah (and his obdurate behavior) for a purpose no one saw coming.

But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. — Exodus 9:16 (ESV)

In fact, this whole incredible saga, from Genesis on, has always had, as its central purpose, God’s glory. It’s not just about glorifying God; it’s all about glorifying God. Nothing else is significant.

This is a sticking point with reformed theology. We cannot bear to see ourselves as insignificant. Someone’s whole life can exist for the sole purpose of serving as an example of what not to do. It makes us as disposable as Kleenex. Without God’s grace, that’s what we are—vessels created for destruction.

You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory. — Romans 9:19–23 (ESV)

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Weekend DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.