"Up to this time all had spoken the same language; now those that could understand one another's speech united in companies; some went one way, and some another. “From thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.” Verse 9 . 8T 215.1"
"Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth."
The EGW passage directly quotes and references Genesis 11:9, making it a clear and explicit allusion.
"In our day the Lord desires that His people shall be dispersed throughout the earth. They are not to colonize. Jesus said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15 . When the disciples followed their inclination to remain in large numbers in Jerusalem, persecution was permitted to come upon them, and they were scattered to all parts of the inhabited world. 8T 215.2"
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
The EGW passage directly quotes Mark 16:15, making it an explicit allusion. The surrounding context in EGW further explains the application of this verse.
"And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles."
EGW directly quotes Mark 16:15 and then alludes to the scattering of the disciples after persecution, as described in Acts 8:1. The connection is clear and intentional, strengthening the argument for dispersal.
"For years messages of warning and entreaty have been coming to our people, urging them to go forth into the Master's great harvest field and labor unselfishly for souls. 8T 215.3"
"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest."
EGW's call to labor in the 'Master's great harvest field' directly echoes the language and sentiment of Matthew 9:37-38, where Jesus describes the harvest as plenteous and the laborers as few. The connection is strong and relevant.
"Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."
This is a very similar verse to Matthew 9:37-38, and the reasoning is the same. EGW's call to labor in the 'Master's great harvest field' directly echoes the language and sentiment of Luke 10:2, where Jesus describes the harvest as great and the laborers as few. The connection is strong and relevant.
"“True missionary workers will not colonize. God's people are to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth. The investment of large sums of money in the building up of the work in one place is not in the order of God. Plants are to be made in many places. Schools and sanitariums are to be established in places where there is now nothing to represent the truth. These interests are not to be established for the purpose of making money, but for the purpose of spreading the truth. Land should be secured at a distance from the cities, where schools can be built up in which the youth can be given an education in agricultural and mechanical lines. 8T 215.5"
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
EGW uses the phrase 'pilgrims and strangers on the earth,' which is a direct allusion to Hebrews 11:13. The context of both passages relates to not being attached to earthly possessions and focusing on a higher purpose.