Brazen Faith & Bronze Serpents

[Luther discusses God's command to the Israelites to look upon the bronze serpent for healing (Num. 21)]

To look was an easy task; but it was difficult to believe that the lowly, light work of opening the eyes and looking at the pole and the brazen serpent would help against the poison of the serpents and heal a man. Otherwise nothing is easier than casting a glance at someone. And no doubt there were many among the Jews who mocked Moses and said: "Of all things! If we cannot drive the serpents away with knives and pointed sticks, with water and sword, what good will the mere looking at the serpent do?" ...

Among Papists, faith no doubt also seems to be an insignificant matter. "What of faith?" they ask. "What is faith anyway? Faith is not enough; you must also do good works, put on a cowl, fast, pray, give alms...." But try it, and you will no doubt see how "easy" faith is. For the devil soon appears, to suggest thoughts to such as these: "Come now! Can a man expect to be saved by means of such an easy thing? So the Jews spoke: "You must take pincers and tear the serpents away or run to some water to cool yourself. How could looking at the serpent help you?"

But such is the might of our Lord God that He leads and governs the world with a wisp of straw and is able to save and help from sin, death, devil, and hell with a little drop of water [Baptism]. To be sure, it is a trifling matter to say: "All who believe in Him shall have eternal life, but in this way God does powerful and wonderful things."

Source: Quoted in Ewald M. Plass, What Luther Says, A Practical In-home Theology for the Active Christian. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House. 1959 Edition, 10th Printing (1994), p. 486.