These horses and chariots [67] of fire came down to Elisha. Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “I pray that you will cause these people to become blind.”
Then they did something to the men outside the door—they caused all those evil men, young and old, to become blind. So the men trying to get in the house could not find the door.
Elisha said to the Aramean army, “This is not the right way. This is not the right city. Follow me. I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” Then Elisha led the Aramean army to Samaria. [68]
But I will show mercy to the nation of Judah. \{I will save the nation of Judah.\} I will not use the bow or the sword to save them. I will not use war horses and soldiers to save them. I will save them by my own power.” {\cf2\super [7]}
But at that time, I will scare the horse, and the soldier riding it will panic. I will make all the enemy horses blind, but my eyes will be open—and I will be watching over Judah’s family.
“God made the people blind.\par God closed their minds.\par God did this so that they will not\par see with their eyes\par and understand with their minds.\par God did this so that they would not turn and be healed.”\par \i (Isaiah 6:10)\i0 \par
Jesus said, “I came into this world so that the world could be judged. I came so that blind people {\cf2\super [161]} could see. And I came so that people who think they see will become blind.”
So this is what has happened: The people of Israel (the Jews) tried \{to be right with God\}. But they did not succeed. But the people God chose did \{become right with him\}. The other people became hard and refused to listen to God.