Who are the Protagonists in the Israelites Leaving Egypt

I had a surprising literary revelation.  In reading the drama of Moses’ efforts to get the children of Israel out of Egypt I asked myself a simple question: who are the protagonists?  Who is acting?

And the answer isn’t really Moses and Aaron.  At all points, they seem to be following a script that the LORD sketched out for them.

The two decision-makers are the LORD and Pharoah.  The LORD makes an offer, Pharoah rejects it, the LORD sends a plague, Pharoah relents, the LORD ends the plague, Pharoah changes his mind.

It is possible to read this entire thing as the LORD offering Pharoah chances to repent over and over and over.  Even at the very end, when the LORD has Moses lead the children of Israel out by a way that apparently traps them against the Red Sea, this is yet another chance for Pharoah to see the apparent opportunity to go back on his word and to forego it.  Instead, he takes.  The Lord’s offer has once again, and finally, hardened his heart.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

2Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.

3For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.