The scene in this verse takes place inside the Pharaonic palace. We find the Pharaoh, the one with power and grandeur, the claimant of divinity, surrounded by his guards, soldiers, and nobles. And there is Prophet Moses (PBUH) entering the palace with his brother Aaron (PBUH) and initiating the conversation immediately by saying:

( وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ يَا فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي رَسُولٌ مِّن رَّبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ) (And Moses said, “O Pharaoh, I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds). Notice that Prophet Moses (PBUH) starts the conversation directly, without the kind of awe-inspiring atmosphere present in the Pharaoh’s court. He addresses Pharaoh simply as (O Pharaoh). (Pharaoh) is the title given to the ruler of Egypt at that time. Pharao listened to Prophet Moses’ (PBUH) words as he said: (I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds). This is the first undermining of the Pharaoh’s divinity before Prophet Moses (PBUH) talks about the people of Israel and his mission to save them. This is a contradiction to what Pharaoh claimed in a previous verse:

 أَنَا رَبُّكُمُ الْأَعْلَىٰ

(“I am your most exalted lord.”) (An-Naazi’aat: 24)

Later, we will encounter verses that explain the source of the Prophet Moses’ (PBUH) courage, when Allah says:

( 43 ) اذْهَبَا إِلَىٰ فِرْعَوْنَ إِنَّهُ طَغَىٰ ( 44 ) فَقُولَا لَهُ قَوْلًا لَّيِّنًا لَّعَلَّهُ يَتَذَكَّرُ أَوْ يَخْشَىٰ ( 45 ) قَالَا رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا نَخَافُ أَن يَفْرُطَ عَلَيْنَا أَوْ أَن يَطْغَىٰ ( 46 ) قَالَ لَا تَخَافَا ۖ إِنَّنِي مَعَكُمَا أَسْمَعُ وَأَرَىٰ 

(( 43 ) Go, both of you, to Pharaoh. Indeed, he has transgressed. ( 44 )   And speak to him with gentle speech that perhaps he may be reminded or fear [Allah].” ( 45 ) They said, “Our Lord, indeed we are afraid that he will hasten [punishment] against us or that he will transgress.” ( 46 ) [Allah] said, “Fear not. Indeed, I am with you both; I hear and I see.) (Taa-Haa)

Prophet Moses and Aaron (PBUT) address the Pharaoh with great courage and confidence because Allah (swt) prepared them for this momentous and awe-inspiring encounter.

(I am a messenger from the Lord of the worlds): Prophet Moses (PBUH) did not say: ‘the Messenger of the Lord of the worlds’, but rather: (from the Lord of the worlds). When a person says that they are sent (from) so-and-so, it is as if he has all the power with him of the one who sent him. It is a challenge to the idea of divinity associated with the Pharao.