Hi Aaron
: In answer to your question, I have two points to share:
1. Take the Creation Myths for example. These appear in the book of Genesis Ch.1 and 2. Two completely different accounts of the Creation. Now, broaden ones view to encompass the whole Fertile Crescent. The Babylonians, Asyrians and Egyptians also had Creation Myths.
The Babylonian in particular is interesting for us. The Babylonian Creation Myth of how Marduk called the Cosmos into being bears striking resemblence to the Creation Myths of Genesis, e.g. in the God called all into existence, etc. The only difference is in the relationship between God and man and God, man and the environment. In Genesis, we are told that God saw all that He had made and found it all very good.
My point here is that the Christian Church does not believe the Creation narative as if it were a Court Transcript of a case-action, e.g. God rested on the Seventh Day - what day was this? Were there days in primordial times? No, of course not. Rather, we believe in the Truths that the Creation Myths teach: that God created all, that man was created in the image and likeness of God, that man was put in charge of creation, and that man chose to disobey God and suffer separation from God for his crime.
2. The Pillar of Salt imagery. Hebrew literature is unlike anything we in the West are accustomed to. Hence the reason for Biblical Scholarship and a learned and holy priest to interpret for us!
Many of the books and accounts of the works of Yahweh were written many centuries AFTER the event. Now, in an oral tradition it is imperative that ones stories contain strong images (pictoral literature if you will) so that they can survive the centuries (millenia of passing from one generation to the next). This is true of every other oral culture of the time (e.g. the pagan Creation Myths mentioned above).
So when writing came into the saga, who began to write these oral account down for posterity? The scribes and the priests. It was their job to interpret the plight of Israel and all of Her many, many woes and triumphs. Rather like the Magesterium of the Church today, but does God actually say unto the holy Cardinals "do this!", or "do that!" ? Of course not, this is rather simplistic. Like Jesus Himself says, "you can tell that it is going to rain, because you can see the clouds gathering". In other words, reading the signs of the times.
Therefore, what am I saying in all of this? 1. That there is a danger in taking the Old Testament literally, since it is an account of how Yahweh saves; an account in pictoral literature, not COMPLETELY a blow-by-blow account of God's intervention in nature. 2. That what is recorded in the Old (and New) testament are the accounts of men of faith, seeing the hand of Yahweh working in HIs people's lives, through natural events (rather like we saying: humm.... since the Church is not forming men well for priesthood, God has held His hand and the Call to priesthood is now withheld. Hence the shortage of priests. Did God tell us this? No! We have read the signs of the times....).
In fine, all of the above does not diminish the OT imagery in the least, nor God's power to Save. However, it teaches us what God has done for us throughout Salvation History. Therefore, what he can do for us in our own life; what He has already done in Christ Jesus our Lord. In this time of
Triduum Sacrum both the mighty power of God to Save and to do marvelous works is to be celebrated. But not everything is a 'wonder' or miraculous event, e.g. the distruction of Sodom and Gommorah, Lot's wife, etc. So let us not get bogged down in the imagery, but transcend it unto the truth they teach us. (Be careful not to project unto God, what is purely a trait of fallen humanity, i.e. taking life.)
