The Opposition or Identity of Two Plots

God exposed the plan of the Children of Israel and led Jesus (a.s.) and the disciples to victory in their struggle. Therefore, God’s plot was not that they decided to kill Jesus (a.s.) but God protected him through His plot. Rather, the intended meaning is that same divine struggle and victory. The nature of this struggle and victory is mentioned at the end of Sūrat al-Ṣaff.

Some people of knowledge believe that God’s plot against the Children of Israel was not separate from their own actions; meaning that when they incurred divine wrath and deserved God’s anger due to their continuous disbelief in Jesus (a.s.), God made their punishment come through their own hands when they began to plot. Thus God’s plot against them was identical to their plot against Jesus (a.s.). This is similar to bestowing blessings despite opposition and maintaining the state of evildoers despite their misconduct.(514) Such a possibility is conceivable in itself; however, the apparent meaning of the verse under discussion indicates the opposition of two plots and the superiority of God’s plot over others’ plots.