According to the Biblical numerology, forty stands for preparation, purification, spiritual strengthening, and test.
PREPERATION
Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah (Gen 25:20).
When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith (Gen 26:34).
The physicians of Egypt took forty days to embalm the body of Jacob “for that is the full period of embalming” (Gen 50:2-3).
Life of Moses was divided into three periods of forty years each: The first period was his life in Egypt under Pharaoh that developed his skills, the next period was in Midian as a period of test, and the final forty years leading the Israelites.
Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty days on two occasions to receive the laws from God (Ex 24:18, 34:1-28).
Moses, while in the wilderness, sent twelve spies for forty days to investigate Canaan (Num 13:25, 14:34).
Jesus spent forty days after his resurrection to prepare his disciples before his ascension.
PURIFICATION
Israel spent forty years in the desert for cleansing from their sins before entering the Promised Land (Josh 5:6).
God gave Nineveh through Prophet Johan 40 days for repentance (Jon 3:4).
Prophet Ezekiel laid on his right side for 40 days to symbolize Judah’s sins (Ezekiel 4:6).
SPIRITUAL STRENGTHENING
Elijah was without food or water for 40 days at Mount Horeb (1 Kgs 19:8).
Jesus spent forty days of prayer and fasting to prepare for his public ministry (Mt 4:2).
TEST
During the deluge when Noah and family entered the ark, “For forty days and forty nights heavy rain poured down on the earth” (Gen 7:12).
While Moses was on Mount Sinai with God for 40 days, Israel underwent temptation to fall into idolatry, and they made a golden calf and sinned (Ex 32:1-6).
Israel faced temptation in the desert during the forty years of their stay in the desert (Deut 8:2).
Goliath challenged the Israelites for forty days before David killed him (1 Sam 17:16).
Roman army destroyed Jerusalem 40 years after Jesus predicted its destruction.
The kings of Israel, Saul, David, and Solomon ruled the United Israel for forty years each.
REFLECTION
Our goal in this life is to inherit heaven. Life in this world is a time of test, preparation, purification, and spiritual enhancement. The message of John the Baptist and Jesus was repentance and conversion of the heart. Even though we commit sin, God allows us time for reconciliation with Him and with one another. We should not miss the opportunity for reconciliation because we do not know how long that period would last in our lives.