Chance,That letter was well done, and I believes that you have zeroed in on the real problem.You made a strong case from the scriptures.Yes, spiritual blindness can happen to an extreme level:
II Kings 6:14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
Then, the LORD also allows the enemy to cause spiritual blindness:
II Corinthians 4:4a In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not,
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