Book of Exodus Theme of Freedom and Confinement

It's the stuff of the American Revolution. It's the stuff of the Civil War. And it's the stuff of George Michael.

People have been wanting their freedom for millennia, and things are no different in Exodus. The first half of this story describes Moses's struggle to free the Israelites from bondage in Egypt. Sure, slavery was much more of the norm back in the day, but it doesn't make their freedom any less sweet. And which is cooler—Yorktown or, um, parting the Red Sea? We're just saying.

1. Do the Israelites want freedom before Moses comes along? Or do they seem to just go with the flow?
2. At what moment would you say the Israelites gain their freedom? Is it really freedom to be wandering around the desert for decades?
3. Who's to thank for the Israelites' freedom? God? Moses? Pharaoh?