Why Abraham Asked for Old Age, Isaac for Suffering, Jacob for Illness

Another interpretation of (Genesis 24:1) "And Abraham was old." Three people requested three things with their mouths, and from them these things had their beginning. Abraham requested old age. Abraham said: A father and his son enter a city, and people cannot tell which is the elder and which is the younger. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: You have requested old age with your mouth. By your life, with you I will begin, as it is said (Genesis 24:1), "And Abraham was old." Isaac requested afflictions. Isaac said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe, a person sins and You exact payment from him all at once. Chastise him little by little, and so You will exact payment from him. Had You brought afflictions upon the generation of the flood, they would not have rebelled against You; rather, You bestowed ease upon them, and therefore they rebelled against You, as it is said (Job 12:6), "The tents of robbers are at peace, and they that provoke God are secure." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: You have requested afflictions with your mouth. By your life, with you I will begin, as it is said (Genesis 27:1), "And it came to pass, when Isaac was old, [that his eyes were too dim to see]." Jacob requested illness. Jacob said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe, a person sits at ease, and his soul departs, and contention enters the world. Concerning this, a person is sought after at the hands of others, or others are sought after at his hands, and he dies suddenly, and contention is made in the world. Rather, let [a person be ill] five or six days until he commands his children all that he requires, and so depart from the world. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Jacob, you have requested illness. By your life, with you I will begin, as it is said (Genesis 48:1), "And it came to pass after these things that [one said] to Joseph, Behold, your father is ill." Thus the three patriarchs established these three things. Therefore it is said (Genesis 24:1), "And Abraham was old."