Many believe that this global flood covering the whole of the Earth is literal history.
Yet when Genesis was recorded no one had the concept of a round Earth. It is a better translation to say all known nations which for the ancient Jews would have been a few middle eastern countries. Not the whole of the Earth.
There was a flood in the Black Sea that would have devastated the region. To those in that area it would have encompassed all known lands.
There is no scientific data backing up a truly global flood. But then by taking the story of Noah too literally we miss the heart of the story.
This is a story about a family surviving the end of the world together and setting out to start anew the story of humanity.
This story is about trusting The Lord even when we don't understand why He is demanding these things of us. He has the big picture we don't, more often than not we are on a need to know basis.
Trust is key but it's also the point.
The Bible is a beautiful and sacred book but it was never intended to be history as we understand it today. Our modern understanding didn't really come about until the 20th century.
Herodotus is said to be the father of history but he also describes conversations with satyrs so clearly something is off if that is part of true history.
The danger in being too literal is that you miss the heart of what are often metaphorical devices. And literalism lends itself strongly to blind obedience.
Morality is doing what is right regardless of what you are told.
Obedience is doing what you are told regardless of what is right.
In John 8:1-12 we have Jesus being moral where others wish to be obedient.
Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
According to Mosaic law this crowd was right but just like in our time stoning someone to death is immoral. They were being obedient to the letter of the law until Christ refuted their actions with the spirit behind it. He reminded them that only God is our judge. Love the sinner and let God worry about their sins.
But we mustn't miss the metaphors, analogies, symbolism and literary devices found in scripture. They are the reasons the stories were passed on.
We must understand the spirit behind the law if we hope to fufill the letter of it.