Why did Abraham believe Isaac would return with him if he was sacrificed?
Abraham believed Isaac would return because he trusted that God could raise the dead. If God permitted Isaac’s life to be taken, Abraham understood God would resurrect him and bring him back alive. His confidence rested on God’s power to restore life, not on Isaac avoiding death.
Les explains that when Abraham was ready to offer Isaac, he had no doubt Isaac would go back home with him. Abraham understood that if God permitted him to take Isaac’s life, God would have resurrected him and brought him back to life. So Abraham already had the concept of resurrection. Les then notes that Paul later lays out resurrection clearly, including Philippians 3:20-21, where believers’ citizenship is in heaven and the Savior will change our vile body to be fashioned like His glorious body.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.