The Ephraimite Journey...or E. T. Phone Home!

Joseph had two sons by his Egyptian wife---Manasseh the firstborn and Ephraim---both blessed by Jacob/Israel, but the right hand of blessing, usually given to the eldest, was laid upon Ephraim instead of Manasseh.  Egypt, Joseph's Egypt, is the starting point of Ephraim's journey.
His tribe and descendants became great and numerous during the slavery of Egypt.  The Ephraimite leadership of Joshua brought the whole people of Israel to the crossing of the Jordan many years later after leaving Egypt.  But that is far down the road of the journey, way ahead of all the things Ephraim would have to go through first.
Ephraim's prosperity as a son of Joseph slowly eroded and descended into slavery and bondage as the succeeding generations of the tribe in  Egypt were forgotten by new ruling Pharaohs.  The inertia of dwelling in Egyptian slavery then could only be transformed into the motion of "exodus" by the mighty actions of a mighty God.  Only then was the command of "must leave Egypt" heard and obeyed.
But "getting out of Egypt" is not an adequate preparation for "getting into the Promised Land."  A middle stage of testing and proving---the Wilderness---was required to purge the leftover attachments of Egypt.  "The Wilderness" was for testing, proving, holy days, and feasting.  It was to be the time of "betrothal" of Yahweh and the people of Israel.  Only after that stage of their relationship was entered into could the nation proceed further into the fulness of  the "marriage."
The stop at Marah for water was a trial of bitters.  No water in the wilderness and you die.  The water at Marah was undrinkable.
Does Ephraim understand the cup of bitter waters?
The "Promised" destination is the Land.  What do "manna" and "Marah" have to do with the Destination?
How can such apparent contradictions be reconciled and understood?  Why should Ephraim get excited at all about such a journey?  Dying in the wilderness seemed the most likely outcome, so why not head back to Egypt!
Clearly not seen, clearly not apprehended, and clearly not appropriated are:  1) the covenant promises of Yahweh  2) the inheritance which is to be Ephraim'  3) the Land and its fruit  4) the Blessing  5) the Land as the place of "His footstool " 6) the place of Marriage, the Land of the  Supper and Feast, the Land where your Family and your People dwell...
Clearly, Ephraim doesn't mind being Left Behind in Egypt!!
But consider:  If the Messiah is coming to reign on earth, maybe the "rapture multitude" are going in the wrong direction---going up, when He is coming down---giving new meaning and insight into what it means to be "Left Behind"!
I don't want to be "Left Behind" in Egypt.  I also don't want to be "Left Behind" in a rapture elevator going in the wrong direction!  True rapture means, seems to me, to be where the Messiah was, is, and will be!
The Journey of Ephraim---the one really rapturous and the one to really get excited about---is the Journey Home:  the place of dwelling, blessing, fig and vine, unity with our brothers, marriage to the Land and our Bridegroom, Sabbath Rest, Feasting and Peace.  Sounds like Zion to me.
So...Ephraimites, listen up!  Might be the time to Phone Home.  Get some instructions and a journey map.  Maybe Stephen Spielberg's "E.T." could be re-titled "Ephraim Time...Phone Home!