Jesus always spoke to the crowds using parables. In fact, the Bible says Jesus would never speak to the crowds without using parables.
A parable is a fictional story that is used to teach deep moral and spiritual truths.
The Scriptures say:
Matthew 13:34-35 (NIV):Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”
With that being the case, wouldn’t it make sense that other Bible stories “from the creation of the world” might also be parables?
I present to you, as a simplified explanation, that the stories in Genesis chapters 1 through 10 could be parables.
In fact, it is possible that the stories in the entire book of Genesis (perhaps even Exodus) could be parables like the kind that our Lord Jesus taught.
This would harmonize perfectly with modern science and archaeology. There would be no need for elaborate, convoluted attempts to force Genesis and Exodus to fit in with modern evidence.
Myself — I prefer looking for literal interpretations first, then, if no literal interpretation makes sense, I look further into the possibility of the story being a parable.