The Israelites thought they were free when they escaped from Egypt. They entered the Midbar- The Wilderness, vast and expansive, no limitations. But one of the most significant events that happened to them in the desert was the receiving and accepting of the law. Eventhough these laws were a new kind of limitation the Israelites did not see them as a restriction but rather a new type of freedom. Without any limitations we really wouldn't be free. We would always be wondering where the boundaries are.
In yoga we learn to set boundaries with parts of our body in order to create more freedom. If we build a firm foundation by rooting our feet and legs into the ground and by tucking our pelvis under and engaging our bandha's then we find that we can stretch upward and reach much higher heights.
The laws restrict us and limit our freedom, but these restrictions ultimately lead to more freedom. Boundaries allow us freedom to travel within them by creating a safe zone. Anyone who has reared a child knows that kids push the limits until they are satisfied that they have reached them and then settle down within the borders.
The Israelites were free to become a people once they had a clear definition of who they were. Once they defined themselves as "people who follow this set of laws" their national identity took hold. The boundaries of these laws continue to be flexible but nevertheless they create a framework within which we can function as a people.
