The phrase "forty days and forty nights" is used in 11 separate passages in the bible, and all refer to the amount of time that God will destroy something once you have risen into higher consciousness.

For example, the primary example is Genesis 7:4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. Here the metaphor of flooding to kill all the evildoers is the same as when you are in meditation and killing the beasts that torment you or cause uncontrollable desire. Get in the Ark then the flood waters come. The ark is the place in your mind that you go to be safe and peaceful and seek the kingdom of heaven in meditation. You will be protected as all the others drown, allegorically speaking of course.

 In Deuteronomy 10:7-13 And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time, forty days and forty nights; and the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also, and the Lord would not destroy thee. When you rise to higher consciousness the spirit speaks to you. But only after all the human thoughts stop, killed, drowned etc.

Deuteronomy 9:11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant. You'll be told what to do after forty days and forty nights like Moses receiving the commandments.