Exodus 19-32

The law is given to the people of God, the message mediated by a man of God. The law is God's word (31v18). The law helps us understand two things:
1. Freedom - (20v2) God makes clear the law is to be understood in the context of freedom from slavery. The law is not presented as another form of slavery.
2. Love - Paul tells us in Romans 13 that love fulfils the law. In other words, the law begins to give us a picture of what it means to love your neighbour - note, for example, 23v4, 5.
However, Moses leaves the people for a short time, only to find when he returns (ch.32) that they have made an idol (representing the 'gods who brought us out of Egypt') to worship. The Lord is angered, and Moses responds by appealing to the God of covenant (32v13). Salvation is not based on works, but on the grace-filled promises of God.
Ultimately, we see that even at this early time after freedom from Egypt, the people could not satisfy the law of God. Moses is a saviour figure, bringing God's message of freedom, and leading the people to the land of promise. Of course, true freedom would be found in perfect obedience to the law, which is found in the promised place of salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ.