Where figurative language is intended, the Bible makes it clear. If Genesis 1 is not historical narrative, one might conclude God was intentionally confusing us.
Would someone mind explaining to me why we assume that a political creation that happened to be named 'Israel' has religious significance? What if the British or Jewish settlers had named it something else?
The Bible seems to go to some lengths to explain that what is meant by 'day' is one period of light and one of dark. All the celebrations - Sabbath - that were based on this assumed the same.