"The second year of famine passed, and still the pitiless heavens gave no sign of rain. Drought and famine continued their devastation throughout the kingdom. Fathers and mothers, powerless to relieve the sufferings of their children, were forced to see them die. Yet still apostate Israel refused to humble their hearts before God and continued to murmur against the man by whose word these terrible judgments had been brought upon them. They seemed unable to discern in their suffering and distress a call to repentance, a divine interposition to save them from taking the fatal step beyond the boundary of Heaven's forgiveness. PK 127.1"
"And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed."
Both passages describe a drought as a judgment from God. The Deuteronomy passage is a general warning, while the EGW passage applies it to the specific context of Elijah's time.
"O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return."
Both passages describe the people's refusal to repent despite being afflicted by God. Jeremiah 5:3 speaks of their hardened hearts, while the EGW passage describes their inability to see the famine as a call to repentance.
"The apostasy of Israel was an evil more dreadful than all the multiplied horrors of famine. God was seeking to free the people from their delusion and lead them to understand their accountability to the One to whom they owed their life and all things. He was trying to help them to recover their lost faith, and He must needs bring upon them great affliction. PK 127.2"
"O Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity."
Both passages emphasize the need for Israel to return to God because of their iniquity/apostasy. Hosea 14:1 is a direct call to return, and the EGW passage explains why God allowed the famine.
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
Both passages deal with God's desire for reconciliation with His people despite their sins. Isaiah 1:18 offers forgiveness, while the EGW passage describes God's attempt to lead them back through affliction.
"“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 18:23, 31, 32 ; 33:11 . PK 127.3"
"For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."
EGW directly quotes Ezekiel 18:32.
"God had sent messengers to Israel, with appeals to return to their allegiance. Had they heeded these appeals, had they turned from Baal to the living God, Elijah's message of judgment would never have been given. But the warnings that might have been a savor of life unto life had proved to them a savor of death unto death. Their pride had been wounded, their anger had been aroused against the messengers, and now they regarded with intense hatred the prophet Elijah. If only he should fall into their hands, gladly they would deliver him to Jezebel—as if by silencing his voice they could stay the fulfillment of his words! In the face of calamity they continued to stand firm in their idolatry. Thus they were adding to the guilt that had brought the judgments of Heaven upon the land. PK 127.4"
"But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy."
Both passages describe the people's rejection of God's messengers and the consequences that followed. 2 Chronicles 36:16 is a general statement, while the EGW passage applies it to Elijah's specific situation.
"And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear."
Both passages describe God sending prophets to warn the people, but the people reject the message. Jeremiah 25:4 is a general statement about the people's failure to listen to the prophets, while the EGW passage applies this principle specifically to Elijah's ministry and the people's rejection of his message.