"The Saviour manifested divine compassion toward the Syrophenician woman. His heart was touched as He saw her grief. He longed to give her an immediate assurance that her prayer was heard; but He desired to teach His disciples a lesson, and for a time He seemed to neglect the cry of her tortured heart. When her faith had been made manifest, He spoke to her words of commendation and sent her away with the precious boon she had asked. The disciples never forgot this lesson, and it is placed on record to show the result of persevering prayer. COL 175.2"
"Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."
EGW retells the story of the Syrophoenician woman, directly referencing the events and outcome described in Matthew 15:28.
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"
Both passages emphasize the importance of persistent prayer. The EGW passage uses the story of the Syrophoenician woman as an example, while Luke 18:1 encourages continuous prayer. The connection is strong and relevant.
"It was Christ Himself who put into that mother's heart the persistence which would not be repulsed. It was Christ who gave the pleading widow courage and determination before the judge. It was Christ who, centuries before, in the mysterious conflict by the Jabbok, had inspired Jacob with the same persevering faith. And the confidence which He Himself had implanted, He did not fail to reward. COL 175.3"
"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."
EGW explicitly refers to Jacob's wrestling at Jabbok (Genesis 32:24-28) as an example of persevering faith inspired by Christ.
"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there."
The EGW passage directly references the story of Jacob wrestling with God at Jabbok, drawing a parallel between Jacob's perseverance and the persistence in prayer. The connection is direct and meaningful.
"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"
EGW connects the persistence in prayer exemplified by the widow in Luke 18:1 and Jacob's wrestling with God to Christ's influence, highlighting the theme of persevering faith. The connection is thematic, not a direct quote or explicit allusion.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
Both passages highlight God's role in inspiring and enabling individuals to act according to His will. Philippians 2:13 states that God works in us to will and to do, while the EGW passage attributes the persistence of the mother, widow, and Jacob to Christ's influence. The connection is clear and supports the idea of divine empowerment.