These types of understandings still exist in oriental and middle eastern cultures today. This is why it is still such a serious matter in many countries for an Arab Muslim to become a Christian. In their way of thinking, the man is in covenant through Islam with God and his brothers. In becoming a Christian, according to eastern thinking, a man is breaking this covenant with God and his brothers and thus is worthy of death. In many cultures, his own mother is sworn to seek his death.
Covenant is an irrevocable, indissolveable commitment breakable only by death.
Covenant breaking in the east is virtually always punishable by death. It is an astounding thing that Almighty God would make covenant with man, committing all He is and all He has to us. Jesus Christ took upon Himself the punishment for our covenant breaking in His establishment of the New Covenant and offered to all who will receive an irrevocable, indesolveable covenant commitment. The concept of covenant then, is a unilateral, irrevocable, indissolveable commitment valid at least until death. Covenant does not depend upon the performance of either party.