Who Was That?

An old story goes like this:

            After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into her old slacks and a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair.

            As she heard the children getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin.  At last she threw a towel around her neck and stormed into their room, putting them back to bed with stern warnings.

            As she left the room, she heard the 3-year old say with a trembling voice, “Who was that?”

            Some people imagine God speaking in the same tone as that grandmother, when he talks with Adam and Eve in Genesis three, after the Fall. I envision a God who is clearly in charge, yes, but also very merciful. Nothing more awful could have occurred than Adam and Eve remaining alive forever in their fallen state. God’s consequences, if you check, also bring ultimate redemption.