The Book of the Judges expresses this in strong language, it that “they repeatedly went a whoring after other gods.”
I don't generally think hypothetically, but the book of Judges makes me consider that there have always been options or alternatives that God has given.
He always wants us to choose His best for our lives, because that choice will always lead to our benefit (not wealth or riches - but benefit in spiritual and literal eternal blessings). But He always gives the option for us to choose differently. That the result or consequences are disastrous is pretty clear, nevertheless, He offers us to choose other gods. But make no mistake, God NEVER EVER pulls punches. He never withholds some of the details, as if to catch us in a trap (James tells is to not accuse God of tempting us). He is always very clear what the consequences of attempting bliss, or nirvana, or self-sustenance, and the like, will lead to.
In the Judges, time and again - some 14 cycles of disobedience and idolatry are recorded.
So, what if God's people had chosen the right? What if I had chosen the right thing?
I believe that at any stage in their walk with Him, they would have been continually blessed. The option is right there, and God doesn't lie.
He called them; He offered them His peace and protection; He offered them His fellowship; If they would have remained faithful, He would have showered them with all of that.
Where things get difficult is when we consider that God already knew what they would do.
And by the way, I am not letting myself off the hook here. In every example of the people of Israel, in their cycles of disobedience and returning to God, I see my own arm of flesh warring against my spirit too.
But therein is the lesson.
Another example is Adam and Eve. What if they had never sinned?
I suppose we would all agree that if they hadn't, someone after them would have eventually sinned and allowed sin and death to enter the world.
But if it hadn't, then isn't it necessarily true that we would be living in a paradise right now?
The point isn't to debate on free choice or hypothetical situations, because the truth is, sin happened, death came, and God knew it would go like this every step of the way.
But the point IS, that we, as men and followers of Jesus Christ, in this day and age, have more knowledge and truth, as well as access to wisdom, than any people and past generations before us.
Therefore, we must rise above the wickedness in this world and obey the one who has call us, and has Given us eternal life.