The Jews to whom Ezekiel ministered went beyond questioning God's conduct. They also questioned His justice.
18:24 A turn in the other direction would have the same result, however. If a person turned from righteous conduct and pursued a life of sin, God would punish him with premature death for his sins even though he had formerly done good.
"An individual's relationship with God when the judgment arrives determines whether he will live or die."266
"A generation is not predetermined for judgment or for blessing by the previous one. Even within a generation, or within an individual life, the past does not necessarily determine the present or the future."267
18:25 In spite of God's righteous dealings with people on the basis of their conduct, the Israelites were accusing Him of not doing right. The Lord asked if it was their ways rather than His that were not right.
18:26-28 The Lord repeated for clarification that turning to sin results in death but turning from sin (obeying God's covenant stipulations) results in life (cf. vv. 21-22, 24; Rom. 6:23). Clearly He meant that a final turning is in view rather than a superficial or temporary turning. If a person abandons God to pursue a life without God (i.e., apostasy), or vice versa, the result will be death or life respectively.
"The reference is not to a temporary lapse, but to a persistent choice of evil which changes the course of a man's life."268
18:29 Nevertheless the Israelites were claiming that God's ways were not right. It was really their ways that were not right (cf. v. 25).
