Why did Paul ask the Galatians who hindered them from obeying the truth?
Paul wanted the Galatians to recognize that their departure from the Gospel of Grace was not prompted by the Holy Spirit who called them. He knew the Judaizers had swayed them, and such persuasion came from the satanic evil spirit, not from God.
Les explains that Paul had told the Galatians they had run well, believed, and become recipients of God's grace, then asked who hindered them so they could not obey the truth. Paul already knew the answer: the Judaizers had come in and were blowing them away from his Gospel of Grace. Les illustrates this with a Louisiana gentleman who, when he met someone not Catholic in a heavily Catholic area, asked who had fooled with him; Les says that is how thoroughly programmed groups often respond when they find someone different. Paul's point is that this persuasion to leave his Gospel of Grace did not come from the One who called them, the Holy Spirit. Since there are only two spirits, it had to be the satanic evil spirit, which is why Paul asked the question.
Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
More Questions
What does Paul say to the Galatians about running well and then being hindered from obeying the truth?
Paul affirms that the Galatians had run well, believed, and become recipients of God's grace, and then asks who hindered them so that they could not obey the truth.
What did Paul mean by asking who had blown the Galatians away?
Les explains Paul's question as Paul saying, I had you indoctrinated and taught, and now someone has come along and is blowing you away — just as people who are thoroughly programmed wonder 'who in the world fooled with you?' when they meet someone different.