In today's fast-paced business world, we're often fixated on the end goal - the exit strategy, the profit margins, the market dominance. But what if our greatest business lessons could be found in a 4,000-year-old story? The biblical account of Joseph offers profound insights for modern entrepreneurs about the critical importance of embracing the process before the promise.

The Dream vs. The Journey

"Many times in business and in life, God can speak in the ways he wants to speak and he can reveal what it is he wants to reveal," shares Lance Vantine, host of the IBAM Biblical Entrepreneurship show. "For some people, he reveals things step by step throughout their life. Other times, with some people, he might reveal the end, but not the step by step of getting there."

Think of it like planting a garden. While you might envision a flourishing harvest, you can't skip the essential steps: preparing the soil, planting the seeds, waiting through seasons of growth, and weathering unexpected storms. Joseph's story exemplifies this principle perfectly.

The Prison Before The Palace

At age 19, Joseph found himself in an Egyptian prison, falsely accused and seemingly forgotten. For eleven long years, he remained there - a far cry from the prophetic dreams of leadership he'd received as a youth. But here's the fascinating part: it was in that very prison where he developed the gift of dream interpretation that would eventually catapult him to becoming Egypt's second-in-command.

"Sometimes God sets us aside for a season to learn and grow and we need that," Vantine explains. "We can't just simply have everything be high and continuing to press on. Sometimes in order to grow, it's to be placed in a wilderness."

This principle applies powerfully to entrepreneurship. Consider these modern parallels:

• The startup founder who spends years in "stealth mode" perfecting their product
• The business owner who weathers a market downturn, learning invaluable lessons about resilience
• The entrepreneur who faces repeated rejections before securing their first major client

The Danger of End-Goal Idolatry

One of the most powerful lessons from Joseph's story is the warning against what Vantine calls "the idolatry of the end." In today's metrics-driven business culture, it's easy to become obsessed with outcomes while missing the crucial development happening in the present moment.

"The process is 99% of it. The end is 1%, it's the latter 1%," Vantine emphasizes. "We want to be those who walk with God step by step each day."

Think of it like training for a marathon. While crossing the finish line is the goal, the real transformation happens in those early morning runs, the dietary changes, and the daily disciplines that slowly reshape you into someone capable of achieving that goal.

The Hidden Purpose in the Process

Joseph's time in prison wasn't just about waiting - it was about preparation. Even in confinement, "God blessed everything he did, that the guards gave him charge over everything in the prison and he had a role in responsibility."

This reveals a crucial truth for entrepreneurs: Sometimes what looks like a setback is actually a setup. The skills Joseph developed managing a prison would later prove invaluable in managing a nation. Similarly, today's entrepreneurs might find that:

• A failed business venture teaches invaluable lessons about market dynamics
• A difficult client relationship develops crucial negotiation skills
• A period of limited resources forces innovation and efficiency

The Question of Stewardship

Vantine poses a profound question: "If we were to get the very end of what God has revealed, if we were to get that, could we really steward it well? Or would we fall into pride? Would we remain humble? Or would we become boastful?"

This brings us to a crucial point about entrepreneurial success: The process isn't just about developing skills - it's about developing character. It's about becoming someone who can handle success when it comes without being corrupted by it.

Becoming Part of Something Bigger

Today, the International Business as Mission (IBAM) continues this legacy of transformative entrepreneurship. Their three-fish principle mirrors Joseph's journey:

Give a fish: Providing startup loans to empower entrepreneurs

Teach to fish: Offering entrepreneurial training for sustainable business practices

Equip for disciple-making: Building a community that supports spiritual growth alongside business success

Imagine being part of a movement that's not just building businesses, but transforming lives. Your partnership could help a single mother in rural Africa start a farming venture that feeds her children and sends them to school. Or enable a young man in Southeast Asia to break the chains of generational poverty through entrepreneurship.

Your Role in the Story

The question isn't whether God is writing amazing stories of transformation through business - He is. The question is: Will you be part of them?

As an impact partner with IBAM, you can help unleash the transformative power of biblical entrepreneurship in communities around the world. Your investment goes beyond financial returns - it creates eternal impact by empowering entrepreneurs to build sustainable, Christ-centered businesses that uplift lives and spread the gospel.

Ready to make a difference? Visit ibam.org today to become an impact partner and join a global movement of biblical entrepreneurship that's changing lives and communities for the better.

Remember: Just as Joseph's journey from prison to palace served a greater purpose, your partnership with IBAM can be part of a bigger story - one where business becomes a force for good in the world.