Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. – Genesis 37:28
This looks like a simple trade: the annoying dreamer being disposed of in exchange for a sum of money. Everybody wins, where “everybody” is Joseph’s older brothers.
But that’s not what is actually happening.
God is using their hatred and jealousy to position Joseph in a place of greatness.
God’s using their determination to kill Joseph’s dreams as a tool for helping Joseph realise his dreams.
God’s using the agreed upon price – 20 pieces of a pure, refined-in-the-furnace metal as a prophetic symbol of the 20 years of refinement that Joseph would undergo before he next saw them.
And the same is true of the things happening in your life.
It’s not what you think it is. It’s so much bigger and richer.