Genesis 17:7-10 English Standard Version (ESV)
7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. 8 And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
9 And God said to Abraham, “As for you, you shall keep my covenant, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
Considering what to tell our new disciples next has a wide range of issues to discuss. We have to choose something and this may not be what others choose yet at some point in should be discussed.
Covenants come in two forms and this is the first. It is a two part covenant. God declares “I will if you will.” It is dependent upon the second party to perform what is asked to receive the promise. “You shall keep my covenant..” God is not beholding beyond His end of the covenant. Now comes the tricky part.
Israel was bound to Pharaoh in slavery and were not allowed to keep that covenant. What did God do? He saved them from that bondage in order for them to establish the freedom to keep covenant. Did they? Let us see.
Joshua 5:2-3 English Standard Version (ESV)
2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth.
No, they followed God for forty years in their wilderness experience without keeping covenant. God said that if He was to keep covenant, they would have to keep covenant first.