"Abraham could not explain the leadings of Providence; he had not realized his expectations; but he held fast the promise, “I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” With earnest prayer he considered how to preserve the life of his people and his flocks, but he would not allow circumstances to shake his faith in God's word. To escape the famine he went down into Egypt. He did not forsake Canaan, or in his extremity turn back to the Chaldean land from which he came, where there was no scarcity of bread; but he sought a temporary refuge as near as possible to the Land of Promise, intending shortly to return where God had placed him. PP 129.1"
"And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:"
EGW directly quotes Genesis 12:2.
"By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:"
Both passages discuss Abraham's sojourn in the land of promise by faith. EGW elaborates on the circumstances of his journey to Egypt due to famine, while Hebrews 11:9 focuses on the faith aspect of his dwelling in tabernacles.
God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love. It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test their character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. He shows them their own weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him; for He is their only help and safeguard. Thus His object is attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which their powers were given them. When God calls…
"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."
EGW directly references the concept of being refined in the furnace of affliction, mirroring Isaiah 48:10. The language and imagery are very similar.
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"
Both passages use the metaphor of fire refining gold to describe how trials and afflictions purify faith and character. The EGW passage elaborates on God's purpose in these trials.
"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness."
Both passages use the imagery of a refiner purifying metal (gold/silver) to describe God's work in purifying His people. The connection is clear and supports the original assessment.