As soon as Laban heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things.
- Genesis 29:13
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
- Genesis 33:4
Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.
- Genesis 48:10
His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.
- Song of Songs 8:3
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
- Revelation 3:20
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you
Just one look at you
My heart grew tipsy in me
You and you alone
Bring out the Gypsy in me
I love all the many charms about you
Above all, I want my arms about you
Don’t be a naughty baby
Come to mama, come to mama do
My sweet embraceable you
I love all the many charms about you
Above all, I want my arms about you
Don’t be a naughty baby
Come to mama, come to mama do
My sweet embraceable you
- Ira Gershwin, Embraceable You
This song debuted in 1930 in the movie Girl Crazy. Ira and George Gershwin first wrote it, however, two years earlier for an operetta name East is West, but the operetta was not published. The song stayed in limbo until the movie came along. The song was performed by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. The video below with Judy Garland was from the 1943 remake of the movie.
If you change the word “mama” to “papa,” it could be God calling us.
Are we such wonderful catches? No.
God loved us when we were yet sinners in that He sent Jesus Christ to die for us.
But there is a certain play between the two before they embrace in the song.
The one singing the song is calling the other to come into the embrace.
There is a certain requirement inherent in the request. Yes, you are embraceable, but I will not move until you make the first move. You are embraceable, but there is a boundary, a certain propriety that must be honored.
My favorite verse, if I have one, is Revelation 3:20. God does not come with a battering ram to the door of our heart. He does not try to beat down the door.
He gently knocks.
While knocking, might He be saying, “Embrace me, you sweet embraceable you.”
Here is Embraceable You sung by Judy Garland from the movie Girl Crazy (1943).
And once we answer the door and Jesus comes in, He will never let us go.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
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