Acknowledgements PrefaceIntroductionMapMy ChildhoodA Slave in EgyptThe PrisonThe King’s CourtVisitors from CanaanThe ReformFinal WordsNotes and ReferencesThe story in this book is based on the life of Joseph, one of the prominent figures of the Old Testament. Really, how relevant can this story—that was written more than three thousand years ago—be to us who live in the twenty-first century? What can we learn? What can be of any use to us from a story about a man who lived so long ago in a long-vanished culture?When we search a little bit deeper than the cultural context, we soon discover that his greatest struggles and biggest questions were the same as ours: Why is it that righteous people suffer? If God is both loving and almighty, why then is there suffering? Questions such as these and many others have occupied the minds of humanity since the beginning of time and are as relevant today as they were then.These are precisely the questions that are so prevalent in the story of Joseph. But does the fact that his story deals with these questions mean that it also gives us answers? Maybe not on the surface. Just as gold is usually not found on the surface but only when we dig and search for it, once we start digging, we will soon discover that for those who search for these answers, there is no richer gold mine in the world than this ancient story.At times, our circumstances can be contrary to the things we hoped for and believed in. These circumstances can cause confusion over what to believe about God. Is He really sovereign? Is He really love? What I am going through, can that be His will? And if not, is He not powerful enough to change it?The story in this book is based on the life of Joseph. No other person in the Bible succeeded in fulfilling God’s plan and purpose for his life to a greater extent than this man, despite extreme hardships. (Or could it be thanks to extreme hardships?) Therefore, his story is a gold mine for those who desire to learn how to respond to hardships and confusing circumstances—those who search for biblical truth to build a solid foundation in their lives for what to believe and how to live.His story is about fulfilling God’s plans and purposes in our lives and reaching the destiny that He has determined for us, while, along the journey, experiencing the unfailing presence and faithfulness of “the One who lives and sees me.”