1.4 An Old Testament Theology of Leadership

YHWH does not want the people of Israel to build their identity on their possessions, on their achievements, on their power, and especially he does not want to build their identity on their leaders. The role of leaders is simply to help the people of Israel fulfil the covenant that they had made with YHWH. Their identity and their purpose is to be grounded only in their relationship with YHWH, and to be nourished by the leadership that he himself exercises over their lives.