The first response from the people of Israel after Prophet Moses (PBUH) achieved victory in Pharaoh’s palace was quite striking. As if they are saying to him: ‘Your coming made no difference and you have not not accomplished anything significant’.
( قَالُوا أُوذِينَا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَأْتِيَنَا وَمِن بَعْدِ مَا جِئْتَنَا ) (They said, “We have been harmed before you came to us and after you have come to us.”): They said to him (PBUH): ‘Our sons slaughtered and our women were relieved. We have suffered persecution before you came to us and since you have come to us.’ This statement was the first instance of ingratitude expressed by the people of the Children of Israel.
( قَالَ عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ ) (He said, “Perhaps your Lord): (Perhaps) denotes hope or optimism, while (to wish) means to wish for something. When the term (perhaps) is used in connection to Allah (swt), it signifies that the matter is real, as hope in relation to Allah (swt) is based on certainty. However, hope in relation to human beings depends on what is anticipated from that person. For example, when I say, “If only youth would return one day”, it is a matter of wishful thinking for something cannot possibly happen. On the other hand, (perhaps) relates to a hope for something that is possible to occur. This is the distinction between (to wish) and (perhaps).
( أَن يُهْلِكَ عَدُوَّكُمْ ) (will destroy your enemy): Meaning that Allah (swt) will surely destroy their enemy.
( وَيَسْتَخْلِفَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ ) (and grant you succession in the land): Not only will the Pharaoh be defeated and destroyed, moreover, Allah (swt) will grant succession of this land to the people of Israel; meaning that they will be given inheritance over this land.
( فَيَنظُرَ كَيْفَ تَعْمَلُونَ) (and see how you will do): Allah (swt) will grant them victory over their enemies and bestow the land upon them so that He (swt) can observe their actions. When Allah (swt) says: (and see how you will do), this kind of Divin Seeing in not initiated by a need to know; Allah (swt) knows all about their acts but He Allah (swt) wants to judge His (swt) creation through their deeds. Therefore, Allah (swt) beholds not to know but to hold people accountable for their deeds.