Nightwalker,
I have to say until recently I held similar opinions. However, I now believe the entirity of the Bible, including Genesis, to be the word of God, and henceforth accurate and the truth.
So I disagree, the Bible is not metaphorical in that sense.
However, neither is it meant to be a scientific reference text. You're certainly right about that. To use the Bible for a detailed explanation of the universe is illogical and often misleading. We've been given the gift of an intelligent mind, capable of advanced science, which does not lie. It occasionally gets things wrong, but never mendaciously.
What we're trying to do here is reconcile these two concepts. So far no-one's managed to show me evidence in the Bible that forbids the Big Bang.
Come on people. You can do better.
God Bless
Nick