Fear is a powerful motivator. Besides good common sense and decency, fear is what keeps us human beings in line most of the time. Its a little sad but true. In this same vein, the God of the OT uses his power as a dictator might. Dictatorship can be necessary, sort of. I am thinking of your standard child-parent relationship. A mother can't give her toddler free reign or chaos and quite possibly harm would occur. But, it is up to said mother to discuss free will with that same child later on down the road.
That's what the narratives of the OT and NT remind me of. It is almost as if God grows up with his/her creation. Much like a first time parent improves their technique from child #1 to child #2.
That brings me to the whole idea of God's gender. I am reminded of a scene in the The Color Purple when Shug and Celie are discussing their concept of a creator figure. Celie admits that she could never really connect to some big white man with a long white beard and sandals. (The standard mental picture I get when someone says "Our Father".) And Shug says there's her problem. There is more to a spirit than being just man or woman.
Seriously, if you were some omnipotent, all powerful being, would you stick to one appearance/one sex/one anything? Where would be the fun in that. Eh, I like to think God has a sense of humor too.
