Chapter 4—An Instance of Ellen White’s Speaking “Not by Commandment”

An illustration of her care in matters of this kind is found in a letter written in 1897 when she judged it would be well if John Wessels of South Africa would join them in Australia in the interests of the sanitarium work. She had been shown things in regard to the family, but there were things she had not been shown. As she wrote, she made this clear:CUW 5.1

“I have not been given the message ‘Send for Brother John Wessels to come to Australia.’ No. Therefore, I do not say, ‘I know this is the place for you.’ But it is my privilege to express my wishes, even though I say, ‘I speak not by commandment.’ But I do not want you to come because of any persuasion of mine. I want you to seek the Lord most earnestly, and then follow where He shall lead you. I want you to come when God says ‘Come,’ not one moment before.

“Nevertheless, it is my privilege to present the wants of the cause of God in Australia. Australia is not my country, only as it is the Lord’s providence. The country is God’s. The people are His. A work is to be done here, and if you are not the one to do it, I shall feel perfectly resigned to hear that you have gone to some other locality.

“I have been shown that it were better for you and the other members of your mother’s family to be in some other locality, because where they are, the companionship and associations are not the most favorable to their spiritual healthfulness.”—Letter 129, 1897.

It will be observed that in the phraseology of her letter she alluded to what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 7:6, 12), making clear what were his own opinions, which he thought were good and right, but in honesty also making it clear that he was not presenting instruction which God has given him.CUW 5.2

Ellen White was in the world, participating in many matters in the home, the community, and the church. She was not denied the privilege of thinking her own thoughts and speaking or writing her own words, but to those eager to know and follow God’s will, there is no occasion for confusion in the matter. The honest-hearted believer has little difficulty in knowing when Ellen White is speaking for the Lord and when she is speaking for herself.CUW 5.3

Ellen G. White Estate
Washington, D. C.
April 6, 1982. Retyped May, 1989.CUW 6.1