When God freed Israel from slavery to the Egyptians, He gave His Law to them, His chosen people. With this act He not only set them free to please Him, but also gave the Israelites ten words as a help. On its own the Law cannot save, but as Jesus preached in the Gospels, it teaches us to love Him and our neighbors. As Augustine put it, we are now free to love God and do as we please, because the Law is not a stumbling block, but a gracious guide.