"Be" before "Do"

When the Isrealites had crossed the Jordan River they were ready to fight but God had other plans for them. None of the fighting men that were born in the wilderness, those forty years old and younger, had been circumcised. Before they could do anything for God they had to have the mark of the covenant upon them. Also they had only celebrated the Passover once since leaving Egypt and that was 39 years earlier at Mount Sinai. They need to know that they were a redeemed people and the Passover reminded them of their redemption. We too need to know that we are covenant people and that we have been redeemed.