History and Symmetry

The Roots of the Western Tradition cites the focus on history as something that sets the Jews apart. What sets this cosmology apart is the feeling of an eventual destiny-- a destiny of a people or of all of creation in contrast with the destiny of an individual in Greek mythology. Different gods can have different influences on their favored peoples (like the Achaians or the Trojans), but as long as they quarrel, history seems indeterminate. With the Jewish God much of this is eliminated in that he doesn't have to quarrel with other Gods. On the other hand, we do see some fickleness and vulnerability to persuasion with this God that distinguishes him from our perception of him now. For example: he's about to disown (or destroy) his chosen people when they make idols, but Moses calms him down and he reconsiders.
A significant literary device here: symmetry. My version of the study bible points out:
God questions man; man points to woman (3.11-12)
God questions woman; woman points to serpent (3.13)
[Serpent is silent]
God passes judgment on serpent (3.14-15)
God passes judgment on woman (3.16)
God passes judgment on man (3.17-19a)
The study bible also points out a longer symmetry in the entire garden story that I won't write out. What purpose does this symmetry serve? Maybe it makes the flow of the story, and so the flow of history, seem purposeful and directed. And the view of history inherited from Christianity (and perhaps inherited from Judaism, I'm not sure) seems to be symmetrical. There's the fall and then our slow progression through time that leads inevitably towards judgment/paradise/posthistory/reunification with God.