“Don’t be too proud of this technological terror you’ve constructed. The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.” My fellow Star Wars nerds will recognize these words spoken by Darth Vader in the original 1977 film. Vader is responding to one of his military commanders, who is gloating over the destructive capabilities of the newly constructed Death Star, which he confidently describes as “ultimate power in the universe.” Shortly thereafter, the rebels, led by Luke Skywalker, blow the station into stardust.

While I could probably fill a semester-long course on the theology of Star Wars, it’s hard not to miss the parallels between the Rebel Alliance’s stand against the Galactic Empire and King Hezekiah’s stand against the Assyrians. Both involve a powerful empire setting out to destroy a much weaker foe. Both involve a powerful empire assured of its own invincibility. Both involve mockery of the divine. Even the commander’s response to Darth Vader is very Rabshakeh-esque: “Don’t try to scare us with your sorcerer’s ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not . . . given you clairvoyance enough to discover the location of the Rebels’ hidden fortress.”

At the same time, both stories involve our heroes winning the day through the power of their faith—Luke Skywalker’s faith in the Force; King Hezekiah’s faith in God. George Lucas and Isaiah remind us that empire, no matter how powerful and permanent it may seem in the moment, is temporary. God, and God’s love for God’s people, endures forever.

This reminder is especially important at a time when many of our siblings are feeling the oppressive power of empire once again. Like the Assyrian kings of old, modern political forces seek to impose their will through war, intimidation, disenfranchisement, misinformation, and deprivation of resources. And like those same Assyrian kings, they believe themselves invincible.

But we, as God’s people, know better. We know empire is temporary. We have hope in the promise of the Resurrection. Not hope in the sense of wishful thinking, but the confident expectation of eternal life and the fulfillment of God’s promises in Jesus Christ. It is that hope that sustains us during troubling times. To quote another—if newer—famous line from Star Wars, “Rebellions are built on hope.” May you find strength and courage in the hope of the Resurrection. And, of course, may the Force be with you.