The Argument between the Prophets and the Disbelievers
Allah narrates to us the arguments that ensued between the disbelievers and their Messengers. When their nations doubted the Message of worshipping Allah alone without partners, the Messengers said,
أَفِى اللَّهِ شَكٌّ
((What!) Can there be a doubt about Allah...) about His Lordship and having the exclusive right to be worshipped alone, being the only Creator of all creatures Verily, none besides Allah is worthy of worship, alone without partners with Him. Most nations were, and still are, affirming the existence of the Creator, but they call upon intermediaries besides Him whom they think will benefit them or bring them closer to Allah. Their Messengers said to them,
يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُمْ مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ
(He calls you that He may forgive you of your sins) in the Hereafter,
وَيُؤَخِّرْكُمْ إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى
(and give you respite for a term appointed.), in this worldly life. Allah said in other Ayat,
وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُمْ مَّتَاعًا حَسَنًا إِلَى أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِي فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُ
(Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding grace to every owner of grace.) 10:3 However, their nations went on arguing against their prophethood, after they had to submit to the first evidence (that Allah Alone created everything).
Disbelievers reject Prophethood because the Messengers were Humans!
Their nations said,
إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُنَا
(You are no more than human beings like us!) so why should we follow you just because you say so, even though we did not witness a miracle by your hands,
فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَـنٍ مُّبِينٍ
(Then bring us a clear authority.), a miracle of our choice.
قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلاَّ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ
(Their Messengers said to them: "We are no more than human beings like you...") affirming that truly, they were only human being like their nations,
وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَى مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ
(but Allah bestows His grace to whom He wills of His servants.), with prophethood and messengership which is His choice,
وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُمْ بِسُلْطَـنٍ
(It is not ours to bring you an authority) according to your choice,
إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ
((except by the permission of Allah. ), after we beg Him and He provides us with a miracle,
وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
(And in Allah (alone) let the believers put their trust.) in all their affairs. Their Messengers said to them next,
وَمَا لَنَآ أَلاَّ نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللَّهِ
(And why should we not put our trust in Allah), after He had guided us to the best, most clear and plain way,
وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَى مَآ آذَيْتُمُونَا
(And we shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us), such as foolish actions and abusive statements,
وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
(and in Allah (alone) let those who trust, put their trust.)
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged, English).